Uveitis refers generally to a range of conditions that cause inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, the uvea, and surrounding tissues.
It can be painful, the eye or eyes may be red, and vision may be cloudy.
An injury to the eye, a viral or bacterial infection, and some underlying diseases may cause uveitis.
It can cause swelling and damage in the tissues of the eye. Untreated, it can lead to vision loss. It can affect one or both eyes.
Symptoms
The signs, symptoms and characteristics of uveitis may include:
Eye redness
Eye pain
Light sensitivity
Blurred vision
Dark, floating spots in your field of vision (floaters)
Decreased vision
Causes
The exact cause of uveitis is often unclear, but some factors increase the chance of it happening.
These include:
Juvenile arthritis, psoriasis, and other autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis
Inflammatory disorders, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis
AIDS/HIV and other diseases that weaken the immune system
Infections that increase the risk of uveitis include HIV, brucellosis, herpes simplex, herpes zoster, leptospirosis, Lyme disease, syphilis, toxocariasis, toxoplasmosis, and tuberculosis (TB).
Uveitis may occur as a normal immune response to fight an infection inside the eye.
Treatment
A patient with uveitis who receives prompt and appropriate treatment will usually recover.
Without treatment, there is a risk of cataracts, glaucoma, band keratopathy, retinal edema, and permanent vision loss.
Antibiotics or antiviral medication will be used if there is an infection.
Corticosteroid medications are sometimes given as well, in the form of eye drops (prednisolone acetate), tablets, or as an injection into the eye.
Steroids are effective in treating inflammation.
Before giving corticosteroids, it is important rule out corneal ulcers by using a florescence dye test.
Immunosuppressants might be recommended if symptoms are very severe and there is a risk of vision loss, or if the patient has not responded well to other therapies.
Mydriatic eye drops, such as atropine or cyclopentolate, dilate the pupil and help the eye to heal.
It also helps with eye pain and stops the pupil from sticking to the lens. There may be blurred vision and unusual sensitivity to light, known as photophobia.
Complications
Left untreated, uveitis can cause complications, including:
