If light sensitivity, eye pain, blurred and compromised vision, and floaters in your line of sight are impacting your life, you may have uveitis, which is the inflammation of a part of your eye called the uvea. Confirm your diagnosis and get effective treatment with Suburban Eye Associates in Huntingdon Valley, Jenkintown, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Untreated uveitis can lead to complications, including cataracts and glaucoma, so don’t delay investigating your discomfort. To contact the team of optometrists and ophthalmologists at Suburban Eye Associates, call the office today.
Uveitis is the inflammation of the middle tissue layer in the eyewall, called the uvea. Three main components make up the uvea: the iris, the ciliary body, and the choroid. Its job is to provide blood flow to the deeper layers of your retina.
There are four types of uveitis:
Iritis, also called anterior uveitis, which is the most common type of uveitis, affects the front part of your eye.
Cyclitis, or intermediate uveitis, is the inflammation of the ciliary body.
Choroiditis and retinitis, also known as posterior uveitis, is the inflammation of the back of the eye.
Diffuse uveitis, or panuveitis, is the inflammation of every layer of the uvea.
Along with the particular parts of the uvea that they affect, every variety of uveitis can inflame the vitreous humor, which is a jelly-like material found in the center of your eye that helps the eye hold its shape and transmits light to the retina.
Uveitis symptoms often appear seemingly out of the blue, and progress rapidly. They can, however, also come on gradually. Such symptoms include:
Without treatment, advanced uveitis can lead to complications such as:
At its worst, uveitis can cause vision loss.
To treat uveitis, your Suburban Eye Associates team focuses first on the cause of your uveitis. If your uveitis is the result of an underlying condition, like Crohn’s disease, they strive to treat your uveitis by treating your underlying condition.
Otherwise, they focus on reducing your eye inflammation. The most common medications that the practice prescribes to treat uveitis include:
Your first line of defense against uveitis is typically prescription eye drops that contain a corticosteroid or another anti-inflammatory drug. If eye drops prove ineffective, your team may prescribe corticosteroid pills or a round of corticosteroid injections.
If your uveitis comes from a viral or bacterial infection, your team prescribes medication to fight the infection.
If you have uveitis in both of your eyes, if your uveitis is threatening your vision, or if your uveitis doesn’t respond to corticosteroids, your team may prescribe immunosuppressants or cytotoxic drugs. These drugs affect the immune system and destroy cells, respectively.
If you experience any of the symptoms of uveitis, don’t procrastinate in scheduling an appointment to get it checked out. Book an appointment with Suburban Eye Associates by phone today.
