Dr. Sanjay Kedhar, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute's newest opthalmologist

Dr. Sanjay Kedhar is a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in the medical and surgical management of patients with uveitis and other autoimmune and infectious eye diseases.

In this Q&A, he discusses the causes, symptoms and treatments of uveitis along with why patients should see a uveitis specialist versus a general ophthalmologist.

Why did you choose to join the GHEI faculty? 

The ophthalmology department at UC Irvine Health has a well-deserved reputation for excellence in patient care, research and technological innovation.

I’m excited to be a part of the team as the department continues its mission to provide cutting-edge eye care to the Orange County community and pursue groundbreaking research that will help all patients. 

What is uveitis?

Uveitis is an inflammation of the eye that typically affects the iris, ciliary body or choroid. Other structures, such as the retina and cornea, can also be involved. It is the third-leading cause of blindness in the United States.

What are the main causes of uveitis?

There are approximately 60 different causes of uveitis.

• Approximately 50 percent of patients with uveitis may have an underlying infectious disease or systemic autoimmune condition associated with inflammation in their eye.
• Infections such as tuberculosis, syphilis, Lyme disease, West Nile Virus and herpes viruses can cause uveitis.
• Patients with systemic diseases such as sarcoidosis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis are also at risk to develop uveitis.
• Children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are particularly susceptible to uveitis. In rare instances, uveitis may be due to cancer.

What are the symptoms of uveitis?

The symptoms of uveitis vary, depending on the location of the inflammation in the eye. Symptoms may be:

• Pain
• Redness
• Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
• Floaters
• Photopsias (flashes of light) 
• Loss of vision

What are the treatments of uveitis?

The treatment for uveitis depends on the individual patient and the underlying cause of their inflammation, but can range from antibiotic therapy to local steroid injections or implants to systemic immunosuppressive therapy (chemotherapy). 

Who is most at risk for developing uveitis?

Uveitis affects women and men from all age groups and all races. 

Why should you see a specialist for uveitis? 

Since uveitis is a relatively rare condition and there are many things that can cause it, it’s essential to see a specialist who has experience doing the investigative work necessary to find an underlying disease.

In addition, patients should seek out a uveitis specialist who has experience using immunosuppressive medications, since their use in some diseases is associated with better long-term outcomes, and in some cases, remission. 

Which types of doctors do you collaborate with regularly? 

Rheumatologists, infectious disease specialists, oncologists, ophthalmologists (mostly pediatric, vitreoretinal and comprehensive eye care).