5 Important Facts About Uveitis

Uveitis is inflammation inside the eye, specifically in the uvea, the section between the sclera in the front and the retina in the back. The inflammation can occur if you’re fighting off an infection in your eye or you receive an injury; however, it can also occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy eye tissue.

Uveitis may develop in one or both eyes, and it can be acute or chronic (long-term). It causes a number of uncomfortable symptoms, and if not treated, it can lead to vision loss.

At Retina Specialists, our team of expert ophthalmologists diagnoses and treats uveitis in our patients in and around Dallas, Texas. As the condition can ultimately lead to vision loss, getting prompt medical attention is crucial. Here, the team discusses five important facts they want you to know about uveitis.

Structure of the uvea

The uvea is the middle layer of tissue located in the eye wall. This tissue includes the iris, the ciliary body. and the choroid.

The iris is the colored part of the eye, and it’s located inside the front, near the sclera (the white part). The ciliary body lies behind the iris and helps the lens focus light. The choroid is a layer of blood vessels that sits between the light-sensing retina at the back of the eye and the sclera.

The type of uveitis you have is determined by which part or parts of the eye are inflamed:

Anterior uveitis

Anterior uveitis affects the inside of the front of the eye and the ciliary body. It’s also known as iritis, and it’s the most common form of uveitis.

Intermediate uveitis

This type affects the retina and blood vessels just behind the lens, called the pars plana, in addition to the vitreous, the gel-like material in the center of the eye.

Posterior uveitis

This type affects either the retina at the back of the eye or the choroid.

When all the layers become inflamed from the front of the eye to the back, it’s known as panuveitis.

5 important facts about uveitis

Here are five important things you should know about uveitis and how it’s treated.

1. Causes may be difficult to pinpoint

In about half of uveitis cases, the specific cause isn’t known. As a result, the condition may be classified as an autoimmune disease that only affects the eyes.

2. Symptoms may vary

Symptoms of uveitis vary from one person to another, but they may include:

• Eye redness
• Eye pain
• Light sensitivity
• Blurred vision
• Dark, moving spots in your field of vision (floaters)
• Decreased vision

Sometimes, symptoms come on suddenly and get worse rapidly. In other cases, they develop gradually. Some people have no symptoms at all; they’re only diagnosed when the ophthalmologist finds signs of uveitis on a routine eye exam.

If you’re having symptoms, especially a lot of pain and decreased vision, seek medical attention immediately.

3. Regular dilated eye exams are crucial

Because it’s possible to have uveitis and not have any symptoms, it’s important to get your annual comprehensive eye exam every year. The doctor puts dilating drops in your eyes so they can see the structures inside, and they check for signs of uveitis, as well as a number of other diseases and conditions from cataracts to glaucoma to macular degeneration.

4. Complications can arise

Left untreated, uveitis can cause complications, including:

• Retinal swelling (macular edema)
• Retinal scarring
• Glaucoma
• Cataracts
• Optic nerve damage
• Retinal detachment

Most severely, if you fail to get medical attention, you can suffer permanent vision loss.

5. Treatments are available

Steroid medications can reduce the inflammation in your eye, easing symptoms and preventing vision loss. These are available most commonly as eye drops, but they can be prescribed as oral tablets or injections around the eye. If all else fails, the doctor may recommend surgery to place an implant in your eye that provides regular small doses of the steroid.

You should know that steroids come with side effects, and they may increase your risk for cataracts and glaucoma. It’s therefore important to get regular eye exams to check for signs of these problems.

Your exact treatment will depend on the part of your eye or eyes that are affected, as well as any other health conditions you have. The doctor will work with you to determine the best possible treatment for your situation.

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms of uveitis, it’s time to come into Retina Specialists for an exact diagnosis and symptom relief. Call any of our five Texas offices — in Dallas, DeSoto, Plano, Mesquite, and Waxahachie — to make an appointment.