Uveitis
Preserve your vision by treating and controlling uveitis. Eliminating inflammation within the eye is the first step toward overcoming symptoms and getting on with your active life.
Moore Eye Institute’s Dr. Shyam Kodati is an expert uveitis specialist who helps patients find relief from this condition.
What is Uveitis?
Uveitis is a term used to describe a group of inflammatory diseases that produces swelling and destroys eye tissues. While uveitis often affects the uvea, it can also impact other parts of the eye including the lens, retina, optic nerve, and vitreous.
Anterior uveitis is the most common form of the disease and affects the front of the eye, mostly in young and middle-aged people. Intermediate uveitis affects the vitreous and is seen most commonly in young adults. Posterior uveitis is the least common form, affects the back of the eye, and can include both the retina and choroid. Pan-Uveitis impacts all three areas of the eye.
When left untreated, uveitis can cause vision loss or blindness.
Uveitis Symptoms
- Blurred vision
- Eye pain
- Redness of the eye
- Floaters
- Light sensitivity
Causes
Uveitis can be caused by injury or diseases of the eye, or can be the result of inflammatory or autoimmune diseases of the body. Infections of the eye or other parts of the body can be causes as well as toxins.
The diseases most commonly associated with uveitis are AIDS, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis, Kawasaki disease, and Behcet’s syndrome.
Uveitis affects people of all ages, but primarily those between 20 and 60 years old.
Treatment
Uveitis treatments are targeted to reduce inflammation and pain, restore vision loss, and prevent additional tissue damage. Anterior uveitis is treated with eye drops which reduce inflammation and prevent muscle spasms. Therapies for intermediate, posterior, and pan-uveitis include injections, oral medications, and surgically implanted time-release capsules.