PURPOSE: Systemic steroids is often the first choice of immunosuppressive therapy for severe endogenous uveitis. The aim of this study was to analyse the indications of steroid therapy, complications and side-effects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Charts from all patients that received oral steroid therapy were reviewed for this purpose and a questionnaire was sent out to all patients to record their subjective complaints. RESULTS: From January 1990 to March 1993, 63 out of the 435 new patients seen at the uveitis clinic received oral prednisone. In 4 cases severe complications occurred that did however not lead to discontinuation of therapy. In 2 cases of intolerance cyclosporine (CsA) had to be added to the treatment regimen to lower the steroid doses and in one case steroids had to be stopped because of intolerance. The questionnaire showed a high rate of subjective side-effects to steroids. CONCLUSIONS: In our collective oral steroids were associated with complications, intolerance and side-effects in a high proportion of cases. It is important to explain the possible side-effects to the patient before starting the therapy. The preventable collateral effects like weight gain and decalcification should be addressed by diet recommendations and modern calcium sparing therapy.