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Uveitis

Uveitis refers to inflammation of the middle layer of your eyeball which is also known as uvea. This condition could be caused due to infections or autoimmune diseases. Uveitis can be painful, cause redness, irritation, swelling and later may even affect your eyesight. If untreated, uveitis can also result in major eye tissue damage and permanent loss of vision

Types of Uveitis

Uveitis is classified into 3 types based on the part of the uvea that is affected.

  • Anterior Uveitis

If swelling happens to the uvea near the front of the eyes, it is called anterior uveitis. This condition can start all of a sudden with symptoms that last many weeks. 

  • Intermediate Uveitis

If the swelling happens to the uvea in the middle part of the eye, it is called intermediate uveitis. In such cases, the symptoms could last a few weeks or sometimes many years. 

  • Posterior Uveitis

If the swelling happens to the uvea in the back of the eye, it is referred to as posterior uveitis. Symptoms develop and get worse gradually and will last for many years.

Uveitis Causes

In most cases, the cause of uveitis is unknown and in some cases, it could be a result of infections, systemic diseases, injuries or medications.

1. Infections

When pathogens enter your body, they cause damage and infection. Pathogens that cause uveitis are:

  • Virus – Viral pathogens like herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster, and cytomegalovirus can cause uveitis.
  • Bacteria – Treponema pallidum that causes syphilis and mycobacterium tuberculosis can also cause uveitis.
  • Fungi – Species like Candida and Aspergillus can cause uveitis.

2. Systemic Diseases

Uveitis can also occur in association with certain systemic diseases.

Systemic conditions that are linked to uveitis are:

  • Sarcoidosis
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Psoriasis
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis

3. Injuries

Eye injuries can damage uvea tissues and blood vessels resulting in uveitis. Our immune system uses inflammation as a response to injury and as part of the repair process. If excessive, it can cause permanent loss of vision.

4. Medications

Certain medications that can cause uveitis are:

  • Cidofovir
  • Rifabutin
  • Brimonidine Eye Drops
  • Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors

Uveitis Symptoms

Symptoms can vary according to the type of uveitis and its severity. The most commonly observed symptoms are:

  • Eye Pain
  • Swelling
  • Redness
  • Floaters
  • Gaps or Missing Sections in the Field of Vision
  • Decreased Vision
  • Blurred Vision
  • Light Sensitivity

Uveitis Diagnosis

The diagnosis process of uveitis starts with an eye exam. At Nethradhama, we use cutting-edge technologies for visual acuity tests and slit lamp examinations. Tonometry is also used to measure the pressure in your eyes and optical coherence tomography to look for retinal swelling.
If uveitis is caused due to other underlying conditions, you may also have to include a blood test to check for infections, autoimmune disorders, forms of arthritis and other blood-related medical conditions. Imaging scans such as X-rays and MRI can also be performed to detect uveitis and its underlying causes. Fundus Fluorescein angiography may be required in cases of posterior uveitis.

Since uveitis causes and symptoms can vary depending on its type, it is best to consult a specialist for early diagnosis and effective treatment. Nethradhama is all set to provide you with the best care and effective treatment options from our expert doctors.

Uveitis Treatment

The goal of uveitis treatment is to reduce the swelling in your eyes. If uveitis is caused by an underlying condition, treatment will be carried out based on specific diseases. Several treatment options are available for uveitis.

1. Medications

  • Anti-inflammatory Drugs

Initial treatment involves eye drops that consist of anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids. But uveitis cannot be completely cured or maintained with eye drops alone. So your doctor may also recommend injection of corticosteroid in or around the eye and sometimes tablets.

  • Anti-spasm Drugs

Eye drops with drugs that control spasms in the iris and ciliary body can help reduce eye pain associated with uveitis.

  • Antimicrobial Drugs

If uveitis is caused due to microbial infection, the main goal of treatment is to bring the infection under control and alleviate the cause.

  • Immunosuppressant Drugs

Immunosuppressant drugs are prescribed to inhibit the inflammatory responses of your immune system thus reducing uveitis, especially when it is long term & associated with systemic diseases.

2. Intraocular Injections

Direct injection of corticosteroid or anti-inflammatory drugs into the eyes will alleviate uveitis and its symptoms for a few months.

Sustained-release Implants
Implantable devices that release medications slowly into the eye will provide long-lasting relief from uveitis symptoms.

3. Surgical Procedures

This surgical process involves the removal of vitreous gel to maintain or prevent the gradual development of uveitis condition.

  • Pars Plana Vitrectomy

           This surgical process involves the removal of vitreous gel to maintain or prevent the gradual development of uveitis condition.

  • Glaucoma Surgery
    Around 20% of patients with uveitis experience a condition called uveitic glaucoma. This term is used to describe glaucoma that is caused either directly or indirectly by uveitis. The treatment for uveitis as well as the condition can result in increased pressure within the eye (known as intraocular pressure or IOP). If the IOP remains consistently high, it can lead to glaucomatous optic neuropathy and a loss of vision in the visual field.

  • Cataract Surgery
    Uveitis can lead to cataracts, which are caused by long-term inflammation in the eye and the use of corticosteroids to treat the inflammation. These cataracts are known as complicated cataracts. When uveitis patients undergo cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL) due to the inflammation caused by uveitis.

Uveitis Complications

Uveitis condition can cause changes in eye structure and have complications associated with that. Some of those complications are:

  • Vision loss & blindness
  • Cataracts
  • Glaucoma
  • Macular pucker
  • Cystoid macular edema
  • Detached retina
  • High intraocular pressure
  • Optic nerve swelling & damage
  • Synechiae
  • Retinal scarring
  • Retinal swelling

Uveitis Treatment in Bangalore

Visit Nethradhama Super Speciality Eye Hospital for the best care. Our team of expert doctors are equipped to provide advanced treatment for uveitis. We will make sure that your experience will stand testimony to our excellence in eye care.

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