Uveitis Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

What is Uveitis?

The eye is shaped much like a tennis Ball, hollow inside with three different layers of tissue surrounding a central cavity. The outermost layer is the sclera (white coat of the eye). The innermost is the retina (the image gathering tissue at the back of the eye, like the film in a camera). The middle layer, between the sclera and the retina, is called the uvea, from the Greek word uvea, meaning grape. When the uvea becomes inflamed, the condition is called Uveitis. The front portion of the uvea is the iris. In the laboratory, it looks like a peeled grape.

Kinds of Uveitis

When the uvea is inflamed at the front of the eye, in the iris, it is described as irises. If the uvea is inflamed in the middle of the eye involving the ciliary’s body, it is called cyclists. If the inflammation is in the back of the eye affecting the choroids, it is called choroiditis

Diagnosis of Uveitis

A careful eye examination by an ophthalmologist is extremely important when the symptoms appear.

Inflammation inside the eye can permanently affect sight and, at times, lead to blindness.

An ophthalmologist will use instruments to examine the inside of the eye and can often make a diagnosis on that basis. In some circumstances, blood tests, skin tests, X-rays and sometimes even specimens taken surgically from the eye may assist the diagnosis. Since Uveitis can be associated with disease in other parts of the body, an evaluation and understanding of the patient’s overall medical health are important. This may involve consultation with other medical specialists.

Symptoms of Uveitis

Symptoms of Uveitis include light sensitivity, blurring of vision, and pain and redness of the eye. Uveitis may come on suddenly, with redness and pain, or it may be slow in its onset, with little pain or redness, but with a gradual blurring of vision.

Causes of Uveitis ?

Uveitis has many different causes. It may result from virus (such as histoplasmosis), or a parasite (such as toxoplasmosis). In most cases, however, the cause remains unknown.

Uveitis tan also be related to diseases in other parts of the body (such as arthritis) or may occur as a consequence of an injury to the eye. Inflammation in one eye can result from a severe injury to the opposite eye (sympathetic Uveitis).

Treatment of Uveitis

Prompt treatment is necessary to minimize any loss of vision. Eye drops, especially local, and oral steroids and pupil dilators (e.g. Atropine), are the medications used to reduce inflammation and pain. For deeper inflammation oral anti-inflammators like Inocin and Indomethacid tablets, medication or injections may be necessary. Complications such as glaucoma (high pressure of fluid in the eyeball), cataract (clouding of lens of the eye), or new blood vessel formation (neovasularisation), may also need treatment during the course of the disease. If complications are advanced, conventional surgery or laser surgery may be necessary. Uveitis arising in the front or in the middle part of the eye (iritis or cyclitis) is commonly more sudden in its onset, lasting generally six to eight weeks, and can usually be controlled in its early stages by the frequent use of drops. Often, this type of Uveitis cannot be given a specific cause. Uveitis in the back part of the eye (choroiditis) is commonly slower in its onset and may last longer and is often more difficult to treat.