LAUSR

With office-based and surgical treatment prioritized for urgent or emergent care alone, many uveitis consultations are held by telemedicine video-conferencing or simple telephone calls. Procedures to ensure access to immunomodulatory medications without an office visit have been instituted. Discussions on professional listservs indicate that uveitis specialists are favoring in-person visits with ophthalmic examination for new presentations of uveitis or when patients with a history of uveitis experience symptoms of recurrent inflammation. Examinations also may be needed to monitor effects of adjusting treatments. Visits are conducted with attention to local recommendations for patient care, including use of personal protective equipment. Given that uveitis is often chronic, a patienteophthalmologist partnership approach is common. If the uveitis is predictable and the patient is familiar with his or her treatment plan, even an acute flare of posterior segment inflammation may be managed remotely. For patients whose uveitis is controlled with a stable drug schedule, history by conference plus standard blood tests may provide adequate review. However, intraocular pressure measurements in patients with a history of secondary ocular hypertension or glaucoma, or in those who have received depot corticosteroid are essential to avoid glaucomatous damage. Long-term impact: Ophthalmologists and patients are realizing opportunities to use telemedicine in managing chronic and stable uveitis. This practice could persist, particularly for delivering care to remote communities. After the COVID-19 pandemic, a randomized clinical trial comparing outcomes for telemedical versus office-based consultations may be appropriate.