Uveitis is a disease that develops as a result of inflammation of the layer of the eye called the “uvea”. It usually has a sudden onset and worsens rapidly. This disease manifests itself with symptoms such as redness, pain and blurred vision in the eye. Inflammation can affect all tissues of the eye and can lead to serious vision loss if treatment is delayed. While successful results are often achieved during the treatment process, uveitis can become chronic in some cases and the treatment process can be long. Therefore, early diagnosis and intervention are of critical importance.
What is uveitis? What does uveitis mean?
Uveitis is defined as inflammation of the uvea, which forms the middle layer of the eye. The uvea includes areas rich in blood vessels and connective tissue, such as the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. The iris is the part of the eye that gives it its color. The choroid is rich in blood vessels that feed the retina and retinal pigment epithelium. The ciliary body secretes the aqueous humor, which is the intraocular fluid, and helps the lens move and focus for near vision.
Uveitis is a group of diseases that involve inflammation of one or more of these areas, as well as adjacent tissues or the intraocular gelatinous fluid (vitreous).
What causes uveitis?
Uveitis can have a variety of triggers, including infections, injuries, autoimmune disorders, or inflammatory diseases.
Is uveitis dangerous?
If left untreated, uveitis can lead to blindness.
What are the symptoms of uveitis?
Uveitis symptoms include:
- Feeling of pain in the eye
- Redness of the eyes
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Blurred vision
- Excessive watering of the eyes
- Dazzling
- Small spots moving in the field of vision
- Decreased ability to see objects at the edge of your field of vision
How is uveitis treated?
Those who need uveitis treatment often ask the question “How does uveitis go away?” Uveitis treatment includes various methods depending on the type of disease:
- Uveitis caused by infection: Antibiotics, antivirals, or antifungals are used to treat uveitis caused by infection.
- Pain and swelling management: Eye drops can both relieve pain and reduce inflammation. They can also help prevent the iris and lens from sticking together in anterior uveitis.
- Steroids: They are effective in reducing eye inflammation due to their anti-inflammatory properties. Steroids can be administered in the form of drops, ointments, oral tablets, or intraocular injections.
Immunosuppressants: These medications suppress the immune system’s response to autoimmune disorders or inflammation.