UVEITIS CLINIC

Uveitis is a group of inflammatory eye conditions affecting the uvea, the eye's middle vascular layer. The uvea includes the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. 

It can affect one or both eyes and occur at any age, though it is more common in adults.

• Eye Redness

• Eye Pain

• Light Sensitivity

• Blurry Vision

• Dark, floating spots in your field of vision (floaters)

• Decreased vision

• Infections: Certain bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic infections e.g. Tuberculosis Syphilis Toxoplasmosis 

• Autoimmune Diseases: Conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis or inflammatory bowel disease.

• Eye Injuries: Trauma to the eye.

• Underlying Systemic Diseases: Inflammation in other parts of the body.

• Unknown Causes: In many cases, the specific cause of uveitis is never identified.

• Uveitis can be cured with proper treatment.

•  However, depending on the cause, it could take anywhere from weeks to months to resolve as the body continues to heal.Unfortunately, in some cases, uveitis may recur or become chronic even after treatment.

• Some cases of acute uveitis will resolve on their own. Nevertheless, it is best to seek treatment from a professional. Left untreated, uveitis can severely damage the eye structures, leading to glaucoma, cataracts, and even permanent vision loss.

• Uveitis is a direct result of the inflammatory response within the eye. When the body responds to infection, damage, or irritants by sending white blood cells to these tissues, it results in the heat, redness, and swelling that characterizes this condition.

• Usually, when an eye problem is suspected, we need to perform thorough eye exam:

• A slit lamp exam, in which a narrow beam of light is shone into the eye so that a magnifying lens can closely examine the internal portion of the eye.

• A funduscopic exam, in which the pupil is dilated (widened) so that the ophthalmologist can look into the eye and see structures in the back of the eye.

• Depending on the results, he or she may order blood tests and X-rays (such as a chest X-ray to look for evidence of sarcoidosis). Because uveitis often is associated with a viral infection or an autoimmune disease, other conditions need to be discovered and treated as well.

• Our team will review the following, along with his or her exam, to help make the diagnosis:

• The individual’s entire medical history

• An analysis of the results obtained in routine laboratory tests and/or imaging; many times a repeat in serologic testing is needed

• Specialized imaging OCT of the eye and its structures, and Some specialized blood tests related to the immune system

• Treatment options will address your current uveitis attack, but there is no guarantee it will act as a permanent solution. For many individuals whose symptoms are caused by autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, this condition may still return even withtreatment. However, most cases are acute and only occur once.

Eye Drops

• Prescription of steroid eye drops are commonly used for treatment.

Tablets

• Steroids may be prescribed orally as medication.

Injections

• Steroids can also be administered through injections in or around the eye.