Uveitis – What is it, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments!

Uveitis – What is it, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments of this condition. Also, Uveitis is swelling of the middle layer of the eye , which is called the uvea. It can occur from infectious and non- infectious causes . The uvea supplies blood to the retina. The retina is the light sensitive part that focuses the images you see and sends them to the brain. It is normally red due to the blood supply from the uvea.

The condition is usually not serious. More severe cases of uveitis can cause vision loss if not treated early.

Main  Symptoms: The following symptoms may occur in one or botheyes:

• Severe redness in the eye
• Ache
• Floaters, which are dark floating points in your vision
• light sensitivity
• Blurry vision

Main  Causes: The cause ofUveitisis often unknown and often occurs in healthy people. Sometimes it can be associated with another illness, such as an autoimmune disorder or aninfectionfrom a virus or bacteria.

An autoimmune disease occurs when your immune system attacks a part of your body. These conditions include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Psoriasis
• Arthritis
• ulcerative colitis
• Kawasaki disease
• Crohn’s disease
• sarcoidosis

Infections are another cause of Uveitis , including

• AIDS, which is caused by a virus
• Herpes, caused by a virus
• CMV retinitis, which is a viral infection of the eye
• West Nile, which is caused by a virus
• Syphilis, caused by sexually transmitted bacteria
• Toxoplasmosis, which is caused by a parasite
• Tuberculosis, which is caused by a bacterium
• Histoplasmosis, which is caused by a fungus

Other possible causes of Uveitis include:

• Exposure to a toxin that enters the eye
• bruises
• Prejudice
• Trauma

How to Diagnose: Your eye surgeon, also called an ophthalmologist, will examine your eyes and take a complete health history. They may also order certain laboratory tests to rule out an infection or autoimmune disorder. Your eye doctor may refer you to another specialist if they suspect an underlying condition is causing your Uveitis .

How to Treat: Treatment for  Uveitis depends on the cause and type of Uveitis . It is usually treated with eye drops. If Uveitis is caused by another condition, treating that underlying condition can eliminate Uveitis . The goal of treatment is to reduce inflammation in the eye .

Treatment Options For Each Type of Uveitis :

• Treatment for anterior uveitis , or iritis, includes sunglasses, eye drops to dilate the pupil and reduce pain, and steroid eye drops to reduce inflammation or irritation.
• Treatment for posterior uveitis may include oral steroids and visits to additional specialists to treat the infection or autoimmune disease. A body-wide infection is usually treated with antibiotics.
• Treatment for intermediate uveitis includes eye drops and steroids taken by mouth.
  Severe cases of  Uveitis may require medications that suppress the immune system .

Complications: Untreated Uveitis can lead to serious complications, including:

• Cataract , which is a cloud of the lens or cornea;
• fluid in the retina;
• Glaucoma, which is high pressure in the eye ;
• Detachment of the retina, which is an eye emergency;
• Vision loss.

Prevention: Seeking proper treatment for an autoimmune disease or infection can help prevent Uveitis . Uveitis in healthy people is difficult to prevent as the cause is not known.

Early detection and treatment are important to reduce the risk of vision loss, which can be permanent.