Uveitis
What is Uveitis?
The eye is shaped like a ball with three different layers. The outer layer is the sclera, the innermost is the retina, and the middle layer is the uvea. Uveitis is the inflammation of the uvea.
What is the impact of Uveitis?
The uvea nourishes the eye through blood vessels. Diseases of the uvea thus affect the nutrition of vital structures: the cornea, lens, retina, and vitreous. Uveitis may threaten sight and is more serious than other common eye disorders.
Symptoms of Uveitis
- Light sensitivity
- Blurred vision
- Pain
- Redness of the eye
Causes of Uveitis
- Systemic inflammatory diseases such as multiple joint pains
- Systemic diseases like tuberculosis, syphilis, and leprosy
- Trauma or injury to the eye
- Virus, fungal or bacterial illness of the eye
- Idiopathic uveitis - unknown causes
Types of Uveitis
There are different types of uveitis depending on which part of the eye is affected:
- When the uvea is inflamed near the front part of the eye it is called anterior uveitis, which usually has a sudden onset and may last 6-8 weeks.
- If the uvea is inflamed in the middle of the eye, it is called intermediate uveitis and affects the muscle that focuses the lens.
- Inflammation in the back of the eye is called posterior uveitis; it has a slower onset and may last longer than other types of uveitis.
- When the inflammation affects the anterior, intermediate and posterior zones it is called panuveitis.
Acute presentation
Certain types of uveitis start suddenly. Patients may suffer from severe pain, redness and defective vision. Uveitis can disappear with proper treatment.
Chronic presentation
When uveitis is present for one year, certain cases can be cured with treatment, while others can only be controlled.
Diagnosis of Uveitis
A careful examination of the body and eye by an ophthalmologist is extremely important when symptoms occur. Inflammation can affect sight and lead to blindness if not treated. Since uveitis may be associated with diseases in other parts of the body, the ophthalmologist should take a complete health history. He or she may need to consult the patient's primary care physician or other medical specialists.
Treatment of Uveitis
Uveitis is a serious eye condition that may cause permanent scars. Immediate and appropriate treatment is the secret to success. Treatment with steroids and pupil-dilating eye drops, with or without systemic medications, is necessary.
Uveitis - special problems
- Uveitis is underestimated as a cause of blindness in most blindness surveys.
- Accurate treatment of uveitis is possible only when an etiological diagnosis is made.
- The conventional treatment of uveitis of unknown origin with systemic corticosteroids can be harmful in areas where HIV, tuberculosis and leprosy are endemic.
- Uveitis is associated not only with visual disability but also with systemic diseases, and therefore is with increased morbidity.
