Cystoid macular edema in uveitis

Abstract

Macular edema is a major cause of morbidity in uveitis patients. Inflammatory mediators act on the integrity of the blood ocular barrier and on the function of the RPE pump. Chronicity leads to irreversible changes and is reported to cause up to 30% of permanent visual loss in uveitis patients. Assessing the presence and severity of edema with appropriate investigational techniques (Spectral domain OCT, and angiography) help to determine its reversibility and define a therapeutic strategy wherein intraocular steroids play a key role while RPE pump stimulators and surgery are restricted to more severe disease or the presence of tractional syndromes.