Uveitis

Uveitis is an inflammation inside the eye. It often occurs when the immune system is fighting an infection. In some cases, uveitis indicates your immune system is fighting an eye infection, but it may also happen when your immune system attacks healthy eye tissues.

Uveitis may cause problems such as vision loss, pain and redness. It damages the part of the eye known as the uvea but usually affects other eye parts. In some cases, uveitis resolves quickly but may reoccur; sometimes, it is long-term.

Uveitis can affect one or both eyes, resulting in vision loss if untreated, so it is important to see your eye doctor immediately to experience symptoms.

What is the uvea?

The uvea is the centre layer of the eye between the retina (the light-sensitive tissue layer at the back of the eye) and the sclera (the white part of the eye). Its three parts include:

• Iris – the coloured part of the eye
• Ciliary body – the part of the eye that helps your lens focus
• Choroid – the part of the eye connecting the retina to the sclera

Types of uveitis

The different types of uveitis affect different eye parts. They include:

• Anterior uveitis – it affects the iris and is the most common type of uveitis, which is less serious
• Intermediate uveitis – it affects the vitreous (the gel-like fluid in the eye) and the ciliary body
• Posterior uveitis – it affects the choroid and retina at the back of the eye
• Panuveitis – it affects all parts of the uvea, from the back to the front of the eye

Symptoms of uveitis

Early symptoms of uveitis often start suddenly. These symptoms include:

• Eye pain
• Red eyes
• Floaters (small dark spots or lines floating across your vision)
• Blurry vision
• Sensitivity to light

If you experience these symptoms, visit your eye doctor immediately, as uveitis may result in vision loss if left untreated.

Can I have uveitis?

Anyone can develop uveitis, but it is more common in people between 20 – 60 years. You also have a higher risk if you smoke cigarettes.

Causes of uveitis

The causes of uveitis are still unknown, but several known causes exist. In some cases, uveitis results from autoimmune diseases, such as

• AIDs
• Lupus
• Psoriasis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Behcet’s disease
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Ulcerative colitis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease
• Sarcoidosis

Sometimes, it results from an infection or condition related to an infection, such as;

• Syphilis
• Shingles
• Toxoplasmosis
• Reactive arthritis
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis
• Histoplasmosis

Uveitis can occur from cancers that affect the eye, like lymphoma

How can my eye doctor diagnose uveitis?

Eye doctors can diagnose uveitis during a dilated eye exam which is painless and simple. Your eye doctor will administer dilating eye drops to widen your eyes and check for uveitis and other eye conditions.

Your eye doctor will also ask about your medical history and may recommend some tests to check if you have an infection or other diseases that may cause uveitis.

Treatment for uveitis

Medications like steroids can reduce eye inflammation. This may ease your symptoms and prevent vision loss. The eye doctor may prescribe the steroids in different ways.

• Eye drops are the most common form of administering steroids for eye inflammation.
• Pills – the doctor can also prescribe steroid pills
• Injections – the doctor may administer the steroid in or around your eye using a small needle
• Implants – if other treatments aren’t effective, the doctor can recommend surgery to fit an implant into your eye. The implant releases small doses of steroids over a period.

Steroids may have side effects and elevate your risk of developing glaucoma and cataracts. If you take steroids for uveitis, ensure you get regular eye exams to check for signs of these eye problems.

Your treatment plan will depend on different factors, like the part of your eye affected and other health conditions. For example, a doctor can prescribe medicines to help control the immune system. You will work with your doctor to find the most suitable treatment.

If you experience symptoms of uveitis, visit Optimal Vision for an eye exam. Call us on 020 3178 3725 to book your eye exam appointment.