Uveitis Specialist

What is uveitis?

Your uvea is the middle layer of your eyeball. It has many of the blood vessels that nourish your eyes. Uveitis occurs when your uvea is inflamed. The condition often goes away with treatment, but in some cases, it can come back or become an ongoing health problem.

The four types of uveitis are: 

• Anterior uveitis (affects the front of the uvea)
• Intermediate uveitis (affects the middle of the uvea)
• Posterior uveitis (affects the back of your uvea)
• Panuveitis uveitis (affects all three parts of the uvea)

Symptoms caused by uveitis include:

• Blurry vision
• Floaters
• Eye pain
• Redness
• Light sensitivity

Your symptoms can develop gradually or rapidly, depending on where the inflammation is. One or both of your eyes can be affected. When left untreated, uveitis can cause eye damage and vision loss. You should make an appointment with the team at Retina Consultants Ltd. if you notice any of these symptoms, especially if they come on suddenly.

What causes uveitis?

Uveitis develops when something triggers the inflammatory response in your eyes. It could be due to an autoimmune condition, infections, trauma, or toxins. Your risk of developing uveitis increases if you have a disease like multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Infections like shingles, Lyme disease, and herpes can also trigger uveitis.

In some cases, your ophthalmologist won’t be able to identify the cause of your inflammation. Even if they don’t know what exactly caused your condition, the team at Retina Consultants Ltd. provides customized treatment plans to reduce your inflammation and protect your vision.

How is uveitis diagnosed?

To diagnose uveitis, your ophthalmologist reviews your medical history and symptoms. They complete a comprehensive dilated eye exam and might recommend blood tests, central nervous system tests, eye fluid analyses, and retinal imaging procedures to make a final diagnosis and develop a personalized treatment plan.

How is uveitis treated?

Your ophthalmologist begins with a comprehensive eye exam. In addition to checking your visual acuity, they dilate your pupils and use a slit lamp to examine the inside of your eyes. They also test your ocular pressure — the pressure inside your eyeball.

Your treatment depends on the type of uveitis, but all therapies work to reduce the inflammation in your eye. Your ophthalmologist might prescribe anti-inflammatory eye drops or medication. In some cases, they recommend injections or implantable capsules that slowly release anti-inflammatory medicine into your eye.

It’s critical to make an appointment with an experienced ophthalmologist if you have any symptoms of uveitis. Call Retina Consultants Ltd. or schedule a consultation online today for expert diagnosis and treatment.