Uveitis
What is Uveitis Eye?
The uvea is the middle layer of the eye which contains much of the eye’s blood vessels. It is located between the sclera, the eye’s white outer coat, and the inner layer of the eye called the retina and is further made up of the iris, ciliary body, and choroid.
Uveitis encompasses a group of inflammatory diseases that produces swelling of the uveal tissues. It is not necessarily limited to the uvea but can also affect the lens, retina, optic nerve, and vitreous, producing reduced vision or blindness.
Uveitis may be caused by problems or diseases occurring in the eye, or it can be part of an inflammatory disease affecting other parts of the body.
It can happen at all ages and primarily affects people between 20-60 years old.
Uveitis can last for a short (acute) or a long (chronic) time. The severest forms of uveitis can reoccur many times.
What are the Symptoms of Uveitis Eye?
Uveitis can affect one or both eyes simultaneously. Symptoms may develop rapidly and can include:
- Blurred vision
- Dark, floating spots/lines in the vision (floaters)
- Eye pain
- Redness of the eye
- Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
The signs and symptoms of uveitis depend on the type of inflammation.
Acute anterior uveitis may occur in one or both eyes and in adults is characterized by eye pain, blurred vision, sensitivity to light and redness.
Intermediate uveitis causes blurred vision and floaters. Usually, it is not associated with pain.
Posterior uveitis can produce vision loss. This type of uveitis can only be detected during an eye examination.
What are the Causes of Uveitis Eye?
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to tissue damage, germs, or toxins. It produces swelling, redness, and heat and destroys tissues as certain white blood cells rush to the affected part of the body to contain or eliminate the insult. Any inflammation of the uveal tissue produces Uveitis.
Uveitis may be caused by:
- An attack from the body’s own immune system (autoimmunity)
- Infections or tumors occurring within the eye or in other parts of the body
- Trauma to the eye
- Drugs and toxins
- Most of the times the cause remains unknown which is termed as idiopathic
What are the types of Uveitis?
The type of uveitis can classified by where inflammation occurs in the uvea:
- Anterior uveitis is inflammation of the iris (iritis) or the iris and ciliary body.
- Intermediate uveitis is inflammation of the ciliary body.
- Posterior uveitis is inflammation of the choroid.
- Diffuse uveitis (also called pan-uveitis) is inflammation of all parts of the uvea.
FAQ
What is acute anterior uveitis?
In simple terms, anterior uveitis refers to the inflammation of the centre or middle layer of the patient’s eye. This layer includes the colored part of the eye, also called an iris, along with an adjacent tissue called the ciliary body. Blurred vision, sensitivity to light, inflammation of the eye, soreness, redness, and abnormally shaped pupil are some of the many symptoms of acute anterior uveitis.
What is chronic uveitis?
Chronic uveitis refers to a medical condition where the inflammation of the eye lasts for about six weeks or more. On the other hand, in the case of chronic uveitis. There is a chance that even after receiving proper treatment, the condition resurfaces after a gap of 2.5-3 months.
What is the difference between posterior uveitis, anterior uveitis, and intermediate uveitis?
When a disease is divided into more than two types or categories, there is a high chance that the condition affects different parts of the organ. Since there 3 types of uveitis, we have given a short overview into each one of them.
- Posterior uveitis: This type of uveitis affects the choroid and the retina at the back of the eye.
- Anterior uveitis: This is the most common type of uveitis, which directly impacts the iris of the eye.
- Intermediate uveitis: This type of uveitis has an impact on the vitreous gel and the ciliary body of the eye.
What is iridocyclitis treatment?
Iridocyclitis treatment, also known as eye iritis treatment, relieves inflammation and pain while preserving vision at the same time. Usually, iridocyclitis or iritis treatment involves the following:
- Dilating Eyedrops: In the first option for treatment for iritis, your ophthalmologist uses special eyedrops to dilate the pupil, which can reduce iritis pain. Dilation of pupils can also ensure protection from developing severe complications that interfere with the functions of the pupil.
- Steroid Eyedrops: Your ophthalmologist suggests glucocorticoid medications that are usually given in the form of eye drops to reduce inflammation of the iritis.
