What is it?

What is Uveitis?

Uveitis is the inflammation of the eyes that specifically affects the uvea. It is a serious condition of the eye that needs medical assistance. Uveitis can be classified into four types, namely,

• Anterior Uveitis affects the iris and the ciliary body
• Intermediate Uveitis affects the ciliary body and the vitreous
• Posterior Uveitis affects the choroids and the retina
• Panuveitis Uveitis affects the whole of the uvea

Uveitis can also be classified on the basis of inflammation. These are of three types, namely,

• Granulomatous iritis
• Non-granulomatous iritis
• Acute iritis

Complications

The complications of uveitis are fatal as it is a serious condition of the eye. It is known to be the fourth cause of blindness as it affects the cornea, retina, and the sclera of the eye that are all essential for vision. Uveitis is a medical emergency and if left untreated, it could cause complete and permanent loss of vision. Other complications of uveitis include the following:

• Glaucoma
• Cataracts
• Optic nerve damage
• Retinal detachment

Symptoms

Here are some noted signs and symptoms for those affected by the condition:

• Pain
• Redness
• Inability to see light, known as photophobia
• Blurring or reduction in vision

Causes

There are a variety of causes for uveitis. The following are some known reasons for this condition of the eye:

• Infections caused by bacteria like tuberculosis, viruses like herpes or parasites like toxoplasmosis
• Autoimmune Diseases such as Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriasis, sarcoidosis etc
• Injury Due to injury to the eye
• Surgery performed on the eye
• Hyper mature cataract may cause uveitis
• Cancer affecting the eye, like lymphoma
• Idiopathic Uveitis is a condition where the cause is unknown.

Treatment

The treatment methods for uveitis vary depending on the type of uveitis, the area affected, and the severity of the condition. The following are the treatment options available for those affected by uveitis,

• Topical Eye Drops
• Medications such as steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are given to relieve inflammation, pain, and discomfort.
• Antibiotics or antiviral medications to fight infection.
• Immunosuppressive medications are also prescribed if both eyes are affected by uveitis.
• Vitrectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove excess vitreous in the eye. Surgery is only performed if the condition is severe and the medications do not work, as it helps to manage the condition of the eye.

It is necessary to detect the condition at an early stage so as to treat the condition with the help of medications and prevent loss of vision.