Uveitis

The eye is a fluid-filled ball consisting of thee layers. The middle layer of the eye includes the iris, the ciliary body and the choroids and is called the uvea. The uvea plays an important role in the normal functioning of the eye:

It contains many blood vessels thereby providing the eye with oxygen and nutrients.
The iris acts as a shutter, controlling the amount of light entering the eye.
It also contains muscles that help the eye to focus.

Uveitis is the inflammation of any part of the Uvea

Symptoms include:

Light sensitivity
Blurring of vision
Pain
Redness of the eye
Floaters

Causes of Uveitis are many and include:

Infections which may be bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic in nature.
Immune-related diseases that can also affect other parts of the body (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter’s disease etc.)
It may result from severe injury to the other eye.
In some cases, the cause is unknown.

Diagnosis

Your eye doctor may diagnose you with anterior, intermediate or posterior uveitis depending on the site of disease. Anterior uveitis affects the iris or ciliary body. Intermediate uveitis affects the middle part of the eye while posterior uveitis usually implies that the retina or choroids is inflamed.

Test and Investigations

In view of the many causes of uveitis, your doctor will question you thoroughly. Tests that may be ordered include: blood tests, mantoux tests and X-rays (e.g. Chest X-ray, Spine X-ray). It is very important to come to the correct diagnosis so as to plan the best treatment for you.

Treatment will be aimed at:

Treating the underlying cause of disease

Relieving pain and discomfort

Preventing the loss of sight from the disease and its complications such as glaucoma, macular oedema and scarring of the retina

Steroids are the mainstay medication and may be given as eyedrops or sometimes as tablets especially in severe cases to reduce inflammation. Other medications may be prescribed as adjunts to steroids. Pupil dilating drops may be used to reduce pain but can results in the temporary blurring of vision.

Prognosis:

The outcome varies considerably depending on the type of uveitis. With treatment, the disease can be controlled and vision preserved.

Complications such as glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye), cataracts and growth of abnormal new vessels may occur. If these occur, they will require treatment too.

Uveitis can recur. Hence, if similar symptoms occur, one should visit an eye specialist to seek treatment.

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