Ankylosing Spondilitis + Uveitis. Questions about treatment.

Hello,

I have had Intermediaite Uveitis with Macular Edema for about a year now and I am treating it with corticosteroid drops. The thing is as soon as I stop the drops, the macular edema comes back.

My ophtalmologist referred my to a rheumatologist and I have been diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondilitis and I carry the HLA B27 gene (my mother has the same diagnosis and gene, so I have family history).

I have no pain related to the Spondilitis and I am reacting well to corticosteroids for my eyes (20/20 vision)

Now, both doctors want to put me on anti TNF drugs to see if my macular edemas get less recurrent and treat the Spondilitis.

To be honest, at this point I want to refuse treatment as I feel great without the medication apart from the recurring macular edema (I had my first eye injection in the left eye in February and the edema has not come back, yay !).

I feel like if I start medication now it will be a downward spiral going forward. I know I will need some medication at some point but it seems overkill at the moment. Thankfully medical MJ is legal in Canada and I am eligible with my diagnosis to manage pain IF I have pain (which I do not have).

So, is it smart to postpone taking anti-TNF drugs until I have real Spondilitis symptoms if my eye issues don't come back as often ?

Of course I will discuss this with my doctors which are great but since my appointment is only in a month, I want to have questions/thoughts ready for them.

Also, sorry for my english, it is not my first language.

Cheers !