What Is Uveitis? Uveitis is a general name for a variety of eye issues. They all share eye inflammation and swelling, which can harm eye tissues. Damage like that might cause vision problems or perhaps blindness.
The term "uveitis" is used since the uvea, a portion of your eye, is typically affected by the swelling.
Layers make up your eye. The middle layer is called the uvea. It lies between the inner layers of your eye and the sclera, the white portion of your eye.
Three crucial structures can be found in your uvea:
The iris. The colored circle in front of your eye is that.
The ciliary body. Its function is to produce the fluid that hydrates the interior of your eye and assist your lens in focusing.
The choroid. These blood arteries supply your retina with the nutrition it requires.
Are There Different Types of Uveitis?
Yes. Which type you have depends on where the swelling is.
Anterior uveitis is the most common. It affects the front of your eye.
Intermediate uveitis affects your ciliary body.
Posterior uveitis affects the back of your eye.
If your entire uvea is inflamed, you have panuveitis.
What Causes It?
Many things, and they’re all tied to inflammation.
A harmful chemical could accidentally enter into your eye and cause inflammation, for instance. The same is true for an eye bruise.
A condition known as an autoimmune illness, in which the body attacks itself, can also lead to uveitis. In addition to that attack, infections and tumors in your eye or other body parts can also produce inflammation.
Are Some People at Greater Risk?
Smokers and people with specific gene combinations appear to be at higher risk.
Additionally, some illnesses raise the risk, including:
AIDS
Ankylosing spondylitis
Behcet’s disease
CMV retinitis
Herpes zoster infection
Histoplasmosis
Kawasaki disease
Multiple sclerosis
Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
Reactive arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Sarcoidosis
Syphilis
Toxoplasmosis
Tuberculosis
Ulcerative colitis
Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease
Symptoms
They may appear suddenly and can affect one or both eyes. Sometimes they develop more gradually.
The warning signs include:
Eye redness
Pain
Blurry or lessened vision and sensitivity to light
Floaters, those tiny dots or specks in your vision
It's crucial that you visit your eye doctor if you experience any of these. Early detection and treatment can help you retain your vision.
Diagnosis
Your eye doctor will be interested in learning about your health history and current condition. This is due to the possibility that other disorders can produce uveitis. They might request X-rays, skin testing, or blood tests. You'll also get a full eye checkup from them.
Treatment
Eye drops containing medication to reduce inflammation, typically a corticosteroid, may be the initial approach. To avoid scarring and to reduce eye twitching, you may be prescribed dilating eye drops. Your doctor might add a tablet or an injection if the drops are ineffective.
You'll also receive extra medications if your uveitis is caused by an infection. Antibiotics and antivirals are some of these infection-fighting agents.
Your doctor might prescribe stronger medications if those therapies don't work or if your uveitis is severe. Immunosuppressives may be one of these medications. Your immune system is lowered by those. They would be combined with corticosteroids.
If you have anterior uveitis, your doctor will likely start by recommending eye drops. They might administer injections, oral drugs, or an immunosuppressive treatment to you if you have intermediate, posterior, or panuveitis. They might also recommend an implanted medicine delivery system.
Your doctor might occasionally advise a procedure to remove part of the gel-like material from your eye. They might refer to it as vitreous.
Treatment is crucial since it can stop catastrophic problems. Make sure to let your doctor know about any new symptoms, and follow his or her instructions regarding follow-up appointments.
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