What is uveitis?
Uveitis is a general term for “inflammation in the eye,” just like arthritis is inflammation in the joints. Inflammation in the eye can cause damage to the structures of the eye if it is severe or untreated.
What causes uveitis?
There are many possible causes of uveitis, and it can affect different parts of the eye. A careful exam, diagnostic testing, and laboratory testing are all necessary to accurately diagnose this condition. In many cases, the underlying causes of uveitis remains unknown even after a thorough workup.
What are the symptoms of uveitis?
Depending on the severity and the part of the eye that is affected, patients may experience no symptoms, blurred vision, light sensitivity, floaters, or redness of the eye.
How is uveitis treated?
Treatment for uveitis depends on the underlying cause and how severe the inflammation is. If the uveitis is due to an infection, then antibiotics are used. More commonly, treatment is aimed at controlling inflammation in the eye with medications (usually corticosteroids). These drugs can be given as oral medications or eye drops. In some cases, steroids will need to be injected into the eye—this is done as an in-office procedure under local anesthesia with minimal discomfort.
It is important that uveitis be managed by a retina specialist with uveitis experience who can accurately diagnose the condition, minimize the disease progression, and prevent permanent vision loss. With optimal management, the visual prognosis can be good, but eyes with a history of uveitis must be monitored periodically to make sure the disease is stable or in remission and there are no complications.