Uveitis is a term used to describe a form of eye inflammation that affects the uvea (middle layer of tissue in the eye) Inflammation can occur in one or both eyes with warning signs coming on very suddenly. Uveitis can get worse very quickly and can lead to permanent vision loss. Uveitis affects people of all ages and usually occurs when your immune system is fighting an infection.
What are the Causes?
Although the specific cause of uveitis is unclear or cannot be identified, it may be considered an autoimmune disorder and also associated with bacteria or an infection from a virus. The following are autoimmune conditions that may be associated with the disease:
- Multiple sclerosis – a condition that mainly affects your nerves
- Ankylosing spondylitis – a condition that inflames your spine and other areas of your body
- Sarcoidosis – an inflammatory condition that affects your eyes, skin, and lungs. It is a rare condition
- Types of arthritis – such as rheumatoid arthritis and reactive arthritis
- Psoriasis – a chronic skin disease that causes itchy, scaly, red patches in various parts of your body
- Crohn’s disease – an inflammatory bowel disease
- Ulcerative colitis – a condition that inflames the rectum and colon
Infections and other causes of uveitis
- Toxoplasmosis – this is an infection caused by a parasite
- Tuberculosis – an infectious disease that affects your lungs
- Herpes simplex – a viral infection that typically affects your mouth
- Syphilis – a chronic bacterial disease contracted during sexual intercourse. This is a rare cause of uveitis
- HIV – a virus that attacks your body’s immune system. This is also a rare cause of uveitis
- Eye trauma or eye surgery – inflammation of the iris can occur due to injury or surgery
- Medication – side effects from certain drugs can lead to intraocular inflammation.
- Types of cancers – such as lymphoma. Also a rare cause of uveitis
Symptoms of Uveitis
In some cases your symptoms will develop gradually. Some symptoms could occur very suddenly and get worse very quickly and affect one or both eyes. If you suspect you have uveitis but do not have any symptoms, Dr Vayanos will do a routine eye exam to check for signs of inflammation.
Look out for these signs and symptoms of uveitis:
- Vision problems such as cloudy or blurred vision
- Redness of the eye
- Pain in the eye
- Floaters or spots in your vision field
- Headaches
- Abnormal sensitivity to light
Other Types of Inflammatory Eye Disorders
- Conjunctivitis – also known as pink eye. This is an inflammation of the conjunctiva
- Keratitis – this is an inflammation of the cornea and is also known as a corneal ulcer
- Thyroid Eye Disease – also known as Graves’ Eye Disease. This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system causes inflammation
Treatment for Inflammatory Eye Disorders
If you are experiencing the warning signs and symptoms of uveitis or any other inflammatory eye disease, contact Dr Vayanos immediately. She will conduct a series of tests to make an accurate diagnosis and inform you of your treatment and management options.
Many untreated eye disorders can cause complications such as optic nerve damage and can lead to a loss of vision and even blindness. It is crucial to seek medical advice from Dr Vayanos in order to ease your inflammation and prevent further tissue damage. Depending on your specific type of inflammatory condition she will treat them in any of the following ways:
- Immunosuppressants – these are medications prescribed to weaken your immune system and suppress inflammation. They can be prescribed if you don’t respond to steroids. Imunosuppressants can be administered via an IV infusion, taken orally, or as an injection.
- Antivirals, antibiotics or antifungals – these are medications to fight bacteria. They make it difficult for them to grow and multiply.
- Steroidal anti-inflammatories – these are taken to alleviate your eye inflammation and come in the form of ointments, capsules, oral tablets, injections in or around your eye, IV infusions or surgically implanted capsules.
- Dilating Eye Drops – these are used to widen the pupils and reduce your pain and swelling. Dr Vayanos may also prescribe eye drops to relieve the pressure in your eye.
Eye inflammations need to be taken seriously. Surgery may be required should your inflammation lead to other complications such as glaucoma, cataracts, retina scarring or swelling, retinal detachment, or optic nerve damage. It is important that to diagnose and treat your inflammation as soon as possible to avoid permanent damage to your eyes. If your damage is advanced, it could lead to vision loss and blindness that cannot be reversed.
Inflammatory Eye Specialist in Cape Town
Dr Vayanos is a general Ophthalmologist in full-time private practice at the Netcare Christiaan Barnard Private hospital in the centre of Cape Town, South Africa. One of her areas of expertise includes Uveitis & Inflammatory Eye Disorders.
Her practice is equipped with the latest technology allowing her to give you personalised, quality, and high-standard eye care and surgical precision. If you have experienced any sort of eye inflammation, we advise you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Vayanos.
Have any questions on uveitis or other types of inflammatory eye disorders? We are here to help. If you do not find your answer below, get in touch with us and we will do our best to provide it.
Even in the absence of a clearly identified cause, uveitis can often be effectively treated. In many instances, determining the cause of uveitis does not result in a cure. It is essential to employ appropriate treatments to manage the inflammation.
Although the specific cause of uveitis is unclear or cannot be identified, possible causes of uveitis are infection, bacteria, or an autoimmune disorder.
Uveitis can get worse very quickly and can lead to permanent vision loss. Uveitis affects people of all ages and usually occurs when your immune system is fighting an infection.
Viral pink eye is most frequently caused by adenovirus, although other viruses can also be responsible. If you have viral conjunctivitis, you might also experience symptoms of a cold or sore throat. Bacterial pink eye, on the other hand, can result from various types of bacteria.
If you are experiencing symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis or pink eye, the quickest way to address them is to consult your doctor. They can prescribe antibiotic eye drops, which can help reduce the duration of the condition.
Keratitis can occur with or without an infection. Non-infectious keratitis may result from minor injuries, such as prolonged contact lens wear or a foreign object in the eye. Infectious keratitis, however, can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.
The primary treatment for bacterial keratitis is antibiotic eye drops. The frequency of application varies based on the infection’s severity, ranging from approximately four times daily to as often as every 30 minutes, including nighttime applications. In some cases, oral antibiotics are also prescribed.
While there is no cure for thyroid eye disease (TED), various management and treatment options are available to alleviate symptoms and slow its progression. Treatment strategies include medications like eye drops and steroids, as well as surgical interventions for more severe cases
Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune condition, where inflammation and scarring result from an immune system attack on the body’s own tissues. TED is most commonly linked to an overactive thyroid gland caused by Graves’ disease, although it can occasionally occur in individuals with an underactive or normally functioning thyroid gland.