EnVision 2026: Advances in uveitis treatment

Julie Pulliam, an optometrist at Washington University in St. Louis who specializes in uveitis and also sees primary care patients, spoke at the EnVision Summit 2026. She participated on a uveitis panel the previous day with her colleague Lynn Hassman, MD, PhD, where she discussed the importance and benefits of collaborative care in managing uveitis. Pulliam emphasizes that the conference has been enjoyable not only for the high quality of the education but also for the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues in a beautiful and relaxing setting.

Pulliam highlighted how working in an academic medical center provides significant advantages for managing complex conditions like uveitis. She has convenient, often same‑day access to lab testing and imaging, which can be more difficult in private practice settings. In addition, she benefits from an integrated network of specialists—pulmonologists, rheumatologists, and dermatologists—who comanage patients with systemic autoimmune diseases that present with uveitis. Communication within this network is described as fluid and efficient, enabling streamlined care. She also collaborates daily with a uveitis specialist, which further supports comprehensive management.

She then discusses advances in treatment. Traditionally, long-term use of steroid eye drops has carried serious risks such as glaucoma and cataracts. Now, however, immunosuppressive therapy and newer agents like Humira offer improved options for chronic eye disease. Pulliam notes that these modern treatments can better control inflammation, reduce flare-ups, and lessen the frequency of doctor visits, which can be reassuring for patients dealing with what she describes as a painful and frightening condition. She mentioned that she often “plants the seed” with patients about these options and works closely with the providers who prescribe and adjust these medications.

Finally, Pulliam expresses appreciation to the EnVision Summit team for including optometry and giving her the chance to share her experience with a collaborative uveitis care model. She believes this integrated, academic, team-based approach is becoming more common in optometry and expects it to spread further because it ultimately improves patient care.