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What is uveitis?

Uveitis is a general term for inflammation of the uvea, which is a tissue inside the eye. The Ãēvea consists of three parts:

Iris

Ciliary body (the muscle which changes the change of the crystalline lens to bring focus to both near and far objects and produce aqueous humor which bathes the inner structures of the anterior segment of the eye). choroid (the middle layer of the eye between the retina and the sclera) 
 Inflammation can occur in any of these parts. The symptoms, treatment and long term effects will vary to the type of uveitis present. 

Uveitis can be classified in a number of ways. A common classification used is according to location of the inflammation.

Anterior: affects the anterior structures of the eye (cornea, anterior chamber, iris and crystalline lens). This is the most common type of uveitis. Intermediate: affects a region of the eye called the pars plans. It is the least frequent type of uveitis.

Posterior: affects the choroid and retina.

How does it occur?

There are many causes of uveitis. Some include:

  • Viruses such as herpes zoster, herpes simplex, Epstein-Barr virus, Coxsackie virus ,and cytomegalovirus
  • Bacterias such as tuberculosis, cryptococcosis, syphilis, Lyme disease
  • Fungus such as candida
  • Parasites such as toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis
  • Autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis, Behcet's disease or Systemic Lupus
  • Ocular trauma
  • Inflammatory diseases such as sarcoidosis, Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
In some cases, the exact cause is not found.

The symptoms of uveitis can be the first sign of a systemic disease.

What are the symptoms?

Uveitis that affects the anterior part of the eye typically causes the following symptoms:

• red eye
• tearing
• eye pain
• light sensitivity
• diminished vision

The symptoms can occur in one or both eyes. It can appear suddenly.

Intermediate or posterior uveitis usually presents with loss of vision or floaters in one or both eyes.

How is it diagnosed?

The ophthalmologist will examine your eyes and a perform a thorough past medical history. The ophthalmologist will also dilate your pupils and check the retina and inner part of the eye.

It is sometimes necessary to perform several diagnostic tests such as blood work to help diagnose the problem.

How is it treated?

The treatment is focused at reducing inflammation in the eye(s). Reducing the inflammation reduces the risk of long term complications. When uveitis is caused by bacteria, parasites, or fungi, the treatment will be focused and eliminating the infection.

Corticosteroid (cortisone) is usually used as the mainstay of treatment. This type of medication requires strict medical supervision as these drops are asssociated with side-effects such as glaucoma, cataracts or even an infection. They should not be used without supervision.

If corticosteroid treatment is not effective in controlling inflammation, immunosuppressive drugs may be required to help control inflammation.

When inflammation is controlled, the ophthalmologist will slowly reduce the amount of medication and finally withdraw it completely.

Dilating drops are frequently used to help relax the iris and the muscles within the eye to help remove pain or discomfort associated with the uveitis.

Can uveitis recur?

Uveitis can recur weeks, months or years after an initial episode.

If uveitis goes untreated, the following complications can be observed:


• glaucoma
• cataracts
• corneal opacification
• synechias (scars within the eye)
• abnormal blood vessel growth
• retinal detachment

How can I prevent it?

It is always helpful to maintain a healthy diet and normal working hours. But when uveitis occurs is important to seek medical attention quickly.

Resumen de Puntos Clave
  • Manejo inmediato de la inflamaciÃŗn: DiagnÃŗstico rÃĄpido y tratamiento para reducir la inflamaciÃŗn de la uvea.
  • Diversas opciones de tratamiento: Uso de esteroides, medicamentos inmunosupresores o productos biolÃŗgicos basados en la gravedad.
  • Monitoreo de complicaciones: Chequeos regulares para prevenir complicaciones como el glaucoma o las cataratas.
  • Apoyo de la uveítis crÃŗnica: Estrategias de manejo a largo plazo para controlar la inflamaciÃŗn y preservar la visiÃŗn.
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Copyright Š 2024 Tijuana Eye Center. All Rights Reserved.Todos Los Derechos Reservados. ATENCION AL PUBLICO EN GENERAL Permiso COFEPRIS 203300201A0987 LS 17AM020040034 Responsable Sanitario Dr. Juan P. Rodriguez P. 4452528 Escuela Superior de Oftalmologia del Instituto Barraquer de America.

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