Surgical Management of Complicated Chronic Uveitis: A Case Report

TL;DR

This case report describes the surgical treatment of a young woman with chronic uveitis that did not respond to standard therapies and led to serious eye complications.

Contribution

The paper presents a multidisciplinary surgical approach for managing complicated chronic uveitis with secondary glaucoma.

Findings

Surgical interventions like Ahmed valve implantation and vitrectomy improved anatomical and functional outcomes in a refractory uveitis case.

Chronic uveitis with secondary glaucoma requires long-term follow-up to monitor for complications and recurrence.

A personalized and multidisciplinary approach is essential for managing complex uveitis cases.

Abstract

Chronic uveitis is a common vision-threatening condition that can lead to many complications and may not respond to conventional medical therapy. This case report aims to emphasize the need for a personalized approach to these challenging cases to reestablish visual function.

A 29-year-old female patient, C.F., developed bilateral anterior uveitis of unknown origin that evolved into a chronic, refractory form. Topical, as well as systemic therapy, failed to control the inflammation, leading to complications in the form of cataract and secondary glaucoma. Surgical management involved Ahmed valve implantation in both eyes and pars plana vitrectomy.

This particularly challenging case highlights the complex challenges in managing uveitis of unknown etiology, especially when complicated by secondary glaucoma. In young patients, progressive structural changes due to inflammation can rapidly lead to permanent vision loss. A combination of surgical procedures resulted in favorable anatomical and functional outcomes; however, long-term follow-ups remain essential to monitor for recurrent inflammation, intraocular pressure fluctuations, and other potential complications.

This case highlights the challenges and the need for a multidisciplinary approach in chronic, treatment-resistant uveitis with secondary complications.

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