Actually Uveitis is fairly rare but the patient who has it is in for a long treatment. Many are due to infections or others are due to autoimmune diseases which are notorious for the difficulty in treatment. Treatment of one of my patient took six years before the condition is finally resolved. Even then there is residual loss of vision and possible recurrence.
Uveitis ( A Simple Guide to Uveitis) is inflammation of the eye's uvea.
The uvea is the eye's middle layer that consists of the iris, ciliary body and choroid.
Uveitis is classified by the part of the uvea it affects.
1. Anterior uveitis refers to inflammation of the iris alone (called iritis) or the iris and ciliary body. Anterior uveitis is the most common form.
2.Intermediate uveitis refers to inflammation of the ciliary body.
3. Posterior uveitis is inflammation of the choroid.
4.Diffuse uveitis is inflammation in all areas of the uvea.
Many cases of uveitis are chronic.
They can produce numerous possible complications, including clouding of the lens (cataract)( A Simple Guide to Cataract) or cornea, elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma( A Simple Guide to Glaucoma), and retinal problems (such as swelling of the retina or retinal detachment(A Simple Guide to Retinal Detachment). These complications can lead to loss of vision.
Uveitis occurs most frequently in people ages 20 to 50.
It is more common in women and more likely to develop with age.
With anterior uveitis, the symptoms usually affect only one eye.
1.mild to strong pain
2.redness and
3.light sensitivity.
4.blurred vision.
The eye is also tender to palpation
Both intermediate and posterior uveitis are usually painless.
Symptoms are blurred vision and floaters, typically in both eyes.
Diffuse uveitis has a combination of symptoms of all types of uveitis.
Uveitis has many causes:
1.viral, fungal, and bacterial infections.
brucellosis
herpes simplex
herpes zoster
leptospirosis
Lyme disease
syphilis
2.autoimmune diseases :
psoriasis ,ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis,
multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus
But, in many cases, the cause is unknown (idiopathic).
Treatment of Uveitis are:
Non-drug:
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warm water
pads to cover eyes for rest and avoid sun
Drugs:
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steroid to reduce the inflammation in your eye.
Whether the steroid is in eye drop, pill, or injection form depends on the type of uveitis you have.
Because anterior uveitis affects the front of the eye, it's easy to treat with eye drops.
Intermediate uveitis can go either way, and posterior uveitis usually requires tablets or injections.
Steroids and other immunosuppressants can produce many serious side effects, such as kidney damage, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and glaucoma.
Retisert is a drug implant and is the first of its kind for treatment of uveitis in 2005.
It consists of a drug reservoir that delivers sustained amounts of fluocinolone acetonide, an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid, for about two and a half years. It is implanted into the back of the eye.
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