Retina specialists ‘uniquely qualified’ to manage uveitis
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KOLOA, Hawaii — Retina specialists are “uniquely qualified and skilled” to care for patients with uveitis, Sunil K. Srivastava, MD, told attendees at Retina 2020.
“Why do I say that? There are so many more of us than uveitis specialists [and] we have no fear,” he said.
Additionally, retina specialists have many strengths, including imaging skills, comfort with surgery and injections, and knowledge about systemic disease association, according to Srivastava.
Imaging is important in uveitis management and evidence shows that OCT is superior to clinical exam, he said.
“Don’t skimp on the imaging in these patients,” he said.
Imaging can help identify the location of the inflammation that is occurring in the eye, determine what to order and find an outcome measure to follow, according to Srivastava.
“It is not unreasonable to make the jump for other imaging modalities,” he said. “You don’t necessarily need to buy a new machine to practice uveitis.”
In uveitis management, it is also important for retina specialists to watch for viral disease, especially in cases of acute retinal necrosis, he said.
“Always be humble and willing to reconsider your diagnosis,” Srivastava said. – by Alaina Tedesco
Reference: Srivastava SK. Uveitis: What every retina specialist should know. Presented at: Retina 2020; Jan. 19-24, 2020; Koloa, Hawaii.
Disclosure: Srivastava reports being a consultant or advisory board member for Alimera, Allergan, Bausch + Lomb, Clearside, Eleven, Gilead, Optos, Regeneron, Sanofi, Santen and Zeiss; receiving research grants from Allergan, Bausch + Lomb, Clearside, Novartis, Sanofi, Santen and Zeiss; and licensing royalty from Bioptigen and Synergetics.