Uveitis Overview
Learn About Uveitis
Uveitis is swelling and inflammation of the uvea. The uvea is the middle layer of the wall of the eye. The uvea supplies blood for the iris at the front of the eye and the retina in the back of the eye.
Iritis; Pars planitis; Choroiditis; Chorioretinitis; Anterior uveitis; Posterior uveitis; Iridocyclitis
Uveitis can be caused by autoimmune disorders. These diseases occur when the body's immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissue by mistake. Examples are:
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Behcet disease
- Psoriasis
- Reactive arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Sarcoidosis
- Ulcerative colitis
Uveitis can also be caused by infections such as:
- AIDS
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis
- Herpes zoster infection
- Histoplasmosis
- Kawasaki disease
- Syphilis
- Toxoplasmosis
Exposure to toxins or injury can also cause uveitis. In many cases, the cause is unknown.
Often the inflammation is limited to only part of the uvea. The most common form of uveitis involves inflammation of the iris, in the front part of the eye. In this case, the condition is called iritis. In most cases, it occurs in healthy people. The disorder may affect only one eye. It is most common in young and middle-aged people.
Posterior uveitis affects the back part of the eye. It involves primarily the choroid. This is the layer of blood vessels and connective tissue in the middle layer of the eye. This type of uveitis is called choroiditis. If the retina is also involved, it is called chorioretinitis.
Another form of uveitis is pars planitis. Inflammation occurs in the area called the pars plana, which is located between the iris and the choroid. Pars planitis most often occurs in young men. It is generally not associated with any other disease. However, it may be linked to Crohn disease and possibly multiple sclerosis.
Uveitis can affect one or both eyes. Symptoms depend on which part of the uvea is inflamed. Symptoms may develop rapidly and can include:
- Blurred vision
- Dark, floating spots in the vision
- Eye pain
- Redness of the eye
- Sensitivity to light
Iritis and irido-cyclitis (anterior uveitis) are most often mild. Treatment may involve:
- Dark glasses
- Eye drops that dilate the pupil to relieve pain
- Steroid eye drops
Pars planitis is often treated with steroid eye drops. Other medicines, including steroids taken by mouth, may be used to help suppress the immune system and reduce inflammation.
Posterior uveitis treatment depends on the underlying cause. It almost always includes steroids taken by mouth.
If the uveitis is caused by a body-wide (systemic) infection, you may be given antibiotics. You may also be given powerful anti-inflammatory medicines called corticosteroids. Sometimes certain types of immune-suppressant medicines are used to treat severe uveitis.
Retina Associates Of St Louis, Inc
David Glaser is an Ophthalmologist in Florissant, Missouri. Dr. Glaser and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Uveitis. His top areas of expertise are Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), Retinitis Pigmentosa, and X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa (XLRP).
Washington University
Rajendra Apte is an Ophthalmologist in Saint Louis, Missouri. Dr. Apte and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Uveitis. His top areas of expertise are Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), Diabetic Retinopathy, Retinal Detachment, and Vitrectomy. Dr. Apte is currently accepting new patients.
Ssm Health Care Group
Henry Kaplan is an Ophthalmologist in Saint Louis, Missouri. Dr. Kaplan and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Uveitis. His top areas of expertise are Retinopathy Pigmentary Mental Retardation, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Uveitis, Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration, and Vitrectomy. Dr. Kaplan is currently accepting new patients.
With proper treatment, most attacks of anterior uveitis go away in a few days to weeks. However, the problem often returns.
Posterior uveitis may last from months to years. It may cause permanent vision damage, even with treatment.
Complications may include:
- Cataracts
- Fluid within the retina
- Glaucoma
- Irregular pupil
- Retinal detachment
- Vision loss
Symptoms that need urgent medical care are:
- Eye pain
- Reduced vision
If you have a body-wide (systemic) infection or disease, treating the condition may prevent uveitis.
Summary: Longitudinal prospective multicenter Armenian registry of systemic autoimmune, autoinflammatory diseases with constitution of bio-banking.
Summary: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BCMA/CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Published Date: July 09, 2024
Published By: Audrey Tai, DO, MS, Athena Eye Care, Mission Viejo, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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