Uveitis

Uveitis is a condition when the eye’s uveal tract is inflamed. The uveal trace is made up of the choroids, iris, and the ciliary body. There are various kinds of uveitis and it depends on the part of the eye which is affected.

Anterior uveitis – this type of uveitis is the inflammation of the iris or ciliary body or both and is the most common type of uveitis.
Intermediate uveitis – in this type of uveitis the inflammation is across the retina the portion behind ciliary body.
Posterior uveitis – it is the inflammation behind the eye, the retina and the choroids.
Panuveitis uveitis – in this uveitis the inflammation is throughout the uveal tract.

Uveitis can be mild and short-lived or it could be severe and persistent. It is a serious condition of the eye and treatment should be given immediately as the person may damage the eyesight severely.

Symptoms

Symptoms of anterior uveitis are –

• The inflammation may occur over a period of a few hours or a few days
• Normally only one of the eyes is effected
• The eyes are painful and turn red
• The pupil will be small and the outline will not be regular
• The iris will turn into a different colour
• The affected eye is extremely sensitive to the sunlight
• Dots will be seen in the field of vision
• Vision is blurred
• Eye seems cloudy
• Severe headache

Symptoms of the intermediate uveitis –

• Usually both are eyes are affected
• The inflammation does not pain
• There is no redness in the eye
• Dots will be seen in the field of vision
• Vision is blurred due to leakage of the blood vessels

Symptoms of the posterior uveitis –

• Usually only one of the eyes will be affected
• Not painful
• It develops slowly
• Its severity varies
• Usually it takes longer time to cure than other forms of uveitis
• Dots will be seen in the field of vision

Causes

The cause of uveitis is unknown but it could be due to an eye injury, eye surgery, infection by bacteria or fungi, autoimmune disease such as AIDS, or other inflammatory conditions. This is not a case of genetic disorder and so will not be passed on to the next generation. Posterior uveitis may result due to inflammation or a reaction against eye infection.

Diagnosis

Uveitis is only diagnosed by observing the symptoms. Anterior uveitis is the most common form of uveitis and one of the eyes will be inflamed and will be turned red. The other types of uveitis are not so common and usually do not pain. The doctor will test the eye with a microscope and if the fluid inside the eye is milky than clear. A light will be shone on the eye that is not affected and the narrowing of the pupil is observed. The affected eye will ache.

Treatment

The type of treatment given will depend in the kind of uveitis and its severity. Mild cases may be cured by using eye drops and the severe ones may need steroid injections to the eye.