Uveitis

Uveitis is a condition where the middle layer of the eye (called the uvea) becomes inflamed. Think of it like a sore or swelling in this part of your eye.

The symptoms of uveitis often appear suddenly and quickly get worse. These symptoms can include a red eye, pain, and blurry vision. Uveitis can affect one or both eyes, and it can happen to people of all ages, including children.

Uveitis can be caused by infections, injuries, or by problems with the body's immune system (like an autoimmune disease). Sometimes, doctors can't figure out what caused the inflammation.

Uveitis can be a serious problem. If it's not treated, it can lead to permanent vision loss. It's very important to see a doctor right away if you think you might have uveitis. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing problems and protecting your sight.

Uveitis is an eye condition that can cause various symptoms. It affects the middle layer of your eye, called the uvea. This layer includes the colored part of your eye (iris), the muscles that control the shape of your lens (ciliary body), and the blood vessels behind the iris (choroid).

Here are some common signs and symptoms of uveitis:

• Redness: Your eye might look redder than usual.
• Pain: You might feel a discomfort or pain in your eye.
• Sensitivity to light: Bright light can feel very bothersome.
• Blurred vision: Things might look blurry.
• Floaters: You might see dark spots or specks moving around in your vision.
• Vision loss: Your vision might become worse.

These symptoms can appear suddenly and worsen quickly, or they can develop slowly over time. Sometimes, you might not notice any symptoms at all, and the condition is only discovered during a regular eye exam. Uveitis can affect one or both eyes.

Think of your eye like a layered cake. The white part of your eye is the outside layer (sclera). The colored part (iris) is part of the middle layer (uvea). Behind the iris is the ciliary body, which helps adjust the focus of your eye. Deep within the eye, a layer of blood vessels called the choroid is nestled between the retina and the sclera. The retina, like wallpaper, lines the inside back of the eye, and the inside of your eye is filled with a jelly-like substance called the vitreous.

Uveitis is an eye inflammation. In many cases, doctors can't pinpoint the exact reason why it happens. It might be considered an autoimmune condition, meaning the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the eye. But sometimes, the inflammation is connected to other health problems.

If doctors can find a cause, it often falls into one of these categories:

• Underlying health conditions: Uveitis can be linked to other autoimmune or inflammatory diseases that affect the whole body. These include conditions like sarcoidosis, lupus, and Crohn's disease. These conditions cause inflammation throughout the body, and sometimes that inflammation extends to the eyes.

• Spinal inflammation: Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of inflammatory disease that mainly affects the spine. It can cause the bones in the spine to fuse together, leading to stiffness and pain in the back. Uveitis is a common complication of ankylosing spondylitis. This means that if you have ankylosing spondylitis, you have a higher chance of also developing uveitis.

• Infections: Uveitis can sometimes be caused by infections. These infections can include cat-scratch fever, shingles (herpes zoster), syphilis, toxoplasmosis, and tuberculosis. These infections can trigger inflammation in the eye.

• Medications: Certain medications can sometimes cause uveitis as a side effect.

• Eye problems: Injuries or surgeries to the eye can sometimes lead to uveitis. The trauma or the body's healing response can trigger inflammation.

• Rarely, cancer: In very uncommon situations, uveitis might be related to cancer that affects the eye, like lymphoma. This is a much less common cause.

Some people might have a higher chance of getting uveitis if they have specific gene variations. Uveitis is an inflammation of the eye. This means that some variations in their genes could make them more prone to this condition. Also, people who smoke cigarettes might find their uveitis harder to manage. This means that smoking could make the inflammation worse or more difficult to treat.

Uveitis, if not treated, can lead to serious problems with your vision. These complications can include:

• Swelling of the retina (macular edema): This swelling can blur your vision, making it hard to see fine details.
• Scarring on the retina: Like a scar on skin, these scars can distort or damage the retina, impacting your vision.
• Glaucoma: This condition happens when pressure builds up inside your eye, potentially causing vision loss. Glaucoma can be a long-term issue and needs ongoing management.
• Cataracts: A cataract is clouding of the lens inside your eye. This cloudiness makes it harder to see clearly. Just like a dirty window, it obstructs your view.
• Damage to the optic nerve: The optic nerve carries images from your eye to your brain. Damage to it can cause vision loss or other problems.
• Retinal detachment: This occurs when the retina pulls away from the back of the eye. This can cause a sudden, noticeable loss of vision.
• Permanent vision loss: In severe cases, untreated uveitis can lead to permanent vision problems or even blindness.

Understanding these potential complications is important for anyone with uveitis. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to help prevent these problems and preserve your sight.

When you see an eye doctor (ophthalmologist), they'll do a complete check-up and ask about your health history. This check-up usually includes:

• Vision check: They'll check how well you see, using your glasses if you need them. They'll also see how your pupils react to light.
• Eye pressure test (tonometry): This measures the pressure inside your eye. Eye drops to numb your eye might be used.
• Slit-lamp exam: A special microscope, the slit lamp, uses a bright light to closely examine the front of your eye. This helps find tiny signs of inflammation.
• Back-of-the-eye exam (ophthalmoscopy or funduscopy): Eye drops will widen your pupils. A bright light is then shone into your eye to examine the back part of your eye.

Your eye doctor might also recommend these tests:

• Pictures of your eye's inside (retina): This helps them see the condition of the retina.
• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): This test creates a detailed map of the retina and a layer beneath it called the choroid. It can show if these layers are swollen.
• Dye tests (fluorescein angiography or indocyanine green angiography): A small tube (IV catheter) is put into a vein in your arm to inject a special dye. This dye travels to the blood vessels in your eyes, and pictures are taken to see if the blood vessels are swollen.
• Fluid analysis: Samples of fluid inside your eye (aqueous or vitreous fluid) might be tested.
• Blood tests: These help check for general health conditions that might be linked to eye inflammation.
• Imaging tests (X-rays, CT scans, or MRI scans): These tests can help reveal problems in other parts of your body that could be causing the eye inflammation.

If the eye doctor thinks a general health problem might be causing the eye inflammation (uveitis), they might send you to another doctor for a general check-up and further tests.

Sometimes, doctors can't find a specific cause for uveitis. Even if the cause isn't found, uveitis can still be treated. In many cases, finding the cause doesn't automatically cure the condition. Treatment is still needed to control the inflammation.