Medications

Treatment includes the use of a medication (in the form of eyedrops or pills) to dilate (widen) the pupil and to prevent spasm of the iris muscles so that the inflamed iris can rest. This allows for healing and helps decrease the eye pain. The drops which dilate the pupil will make you more sensitive to bright lights and will cause blurring of near vision.

Steroid (cortisone) eyedrops are usually prescribed unless an infectious agent (virus or bacteria) caused the iritis. Steroid eyedrops help decrease the inflammation of the iris. If the eye does not improve within a week, your ophthalmologist may consider prescribing steroid pills or steroid injections around the eye. The length of treatment depends on the severity of disease and how well the eye improves with the treatment.

Note that these drops and pills should only be used as prescribed by your ophthalmologist since they may have serious side effects (including glaucoma and/or cataracts) in susceptible individuals.