The complete guide to uveitis.
Drooping of Left Upper Eyelid
What is UVEITIS?
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The Uveal tract is one of the three layers that make up the structure of the eyeball .It is also the most vascular structure of the eye, and consists of the iris, ciliary body and choroid.
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Uveitis means inflammation of the Uveal tract. It can cause serious vision loss and structural changes in the eye but with prompt treatment it can be controlled in most people.
Types of UVEITIS?
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There are different types of uveitis depending on which parts of the eye are involved with inflammation.
Parts of Uveal Tissue
Anterior uveitis
• Affects the front of the eye, including the iris (sometimes called iritis)
• Most common symptoms are redness, eye ache, sensitivity to lights and blurred vision.
Anterior Uveitis
Intermediate uveitis
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Affects the middle of the eye, mainly the vitreous jelly
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Most common symptoms are blurred vision and floaters
Posterior Uveitis
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Affects the back of the eye, mainly the choroid layer and retina
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Most common symptoms are blur and floaters
Panuveitis
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Affects the whole uveal tract and can have variable visual symptoms.
Who can get it?
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Uveitis can occur in adults as well as children, it is therefore important to be vigilant in cases of unabating symptoms in any age group.
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It is not completely clear why most people get uveitis and it can develop in people who are completely healthy. However, there is a greater risk of uveitis in people with systemic inflammatory or autoimmune problems such as inflammatory bowel disease, inflammatory arthritis and psoriasis. In some cases uveitis is caused by infections.
Your ophthalmologist may request ophthalmic as well as systemic investigations to check for an underlying cause, following which they may consult with physicians, rheumatologists and pulmonologists for evaluation of a possible trigger for the inflammation.
Symptoms
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Symptoms depend on the type of uveitis present (whether it mainly affects the front or the back of the eye).
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The most common symptoms are redness, light sensitivity, eye ache ,blurred vision and floaters. It affects one or both eyes.
Treatment
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Treatment usually depends on the type and severity of Uveitis and presence or absence of any systemic association.
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Treatment usually starts with a course of steroid eye drops over four to six weeks. Cases of intermediate or Panuveitis usually require additional treatment as eye drops cannot penetrate well into the back of the eye. Depending on the severity of the disease, you may be recommended oral steroid therapy or steroid injections around the eye. In very rare cases, other immunosuppressant medications may be needed to control the inflammation.
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Affected patients need to maintain regular follow ups to ensure a good resolution of the inflammation
How long does it last?
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The most common type of uveitis, anterior uveitis (affecting the front of the eye), typically lasts 4 to 6 weeks. Some cases of uveitis are chronic and can last for months or years, but this is much less common. Those with intermediate uveitis and panuveitis are more likely to have a chronic course.
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Uveitis can return at any stage and it is very important to see your ophthalmologist promptly if you notice any symptoms returning