Uveitis, one of the leading causes of blindness

Uveitis is a major eye disease which affects the uvea, middle layer of the eye beneath the white part. The uvea includes the iris, ciliary body and choroid. It is one of the most important parts of the eye which transports blood to the other parts of the eye. It affects the middle coat of the eye, which extends from iris at the front of the eye to the retina and choroid at the back of the eye.

Uveitis is the inflammation of the uvea, the internal inflammation of the eye. In many cases the cause of the uveitis is unkown but some of the potential causes are infection such as bacterial, virus, syphilis, tuberculosis and Lyme disease. Autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, reiter’s syndrome, sarcoidosis and ankylosing spondylitis also contribute to the cause of uveitis.  Other than this, past eye problems like injury can also cause uveitis.

Many cases of uveitis are chronic, and they can produce numerous possible complications, including clouding of the cornea, cataracts, elevated eye pressure (IOP), glaucoma, swelling of the retina or retinal detachment. These complications can result in permanent vision loss, if not treated on time.

Its classification usually depends on the area where it occurs. By this one can get to know which type of Uveitis a person is suffering. Anterior Uvietis occurs in the front part of the eye while Intermediate Uvietis occurs at the centre. Posterior Uvietis is another type which occurs at the back while Pan Uveitis usually affects all the three parts of the Uvea.

However, its symptoms are same as that of an eye infection. But it is not just an infection but can lead to a major eye disease or even blindness. Paining eyes are the most common sign of any infection. It also includes redness of the eye, watery eyes, light sensitivity, blurred vision and small or distorted pupil.

Coming to the treatment, some of the common treatments of uveitis include periocular steroid injections, it is the form of therapy which may be uncomfortable, yet very effective in acute uveitis. Other method of treatment is systemic or oral administration of steroids or anti-metabolite drugs. The dose required to penetrate and treat uveitis in the eye is frequently associated with side effects in the rest of the body (including Cushing's syndrome, renal, liver and bone-marrow damage). Cycloplegic medication is another method of treatment in which eye drops are given to dilate the pupil to prevent it sticking to the lens of the eye. These drops reduce the risk of scarring between the pupil and the lens.