New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Uveitis

Uveitis is inflammation inside the eye that can blur vision, cause pain, and lead to permanent damage if untreated. It affects about 150,000 people in the U.S. each year, often people in their 20s through 50s. Treatment typically starts with steroid eye drops or injections, and cases tied to autoimmune disease may need systemic drugs like methotrexate or adalimumab.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing biologic drugs that target specific immune pathways, sustained-release implants that deliver medication inside the eye for months at a time, and new ways to prevent vision loss in chronic cases. Researchers are also working to understand what triggers non-infectious uveitis and whether early aggressive treatment can prevent complications like glaucoma and cataracts.

What to know before you search

Eligibility often depends on uveitis type (anterior, intermediate, posterior, or panuveitis), whether it's infectious or non-infectious, disease activity, and response to prior treatments including steroids.

What types of trials are currently open

• Biologic treatment trials — Testing drugs that target specific parts of the immune system, often given as injections under the skin or into a vein.
• Implant trials — Testing small devices placed inside the eye that release steroid or other medication over months to years.
• Prevention trials — Testing whether early or more aggressive treatment can prevent complications like glaucoma, cataracts, or permanent vision loss.
• Imaging studies — Using advanced eye imaging to track inflammation and predict which patients are at highest risk for vision loss.
• Observational studies — Following people with uveitis over time to learn what causes flares and how well different treatments work in real-world use.