INTRODUCTION
Uveitis is defined as information of the Uvea, the middle layer of the eye. The eye is ball shaped consisting of three layers of tissue surrounding the central clear get filled chamber known as vitreous humour. The innermost layer comprises of the sclera (the white part) and the cornea (the transparent central part). The innermost layer is the retina which is a nervous tissue, very vital for the vision. In between is the vascular tissue known as the Uvea which comprises of iris, cilliary body and choroiditis. The uvea nourishes many parts of the eye including some part of the retina. A kind of clear fluid called iqueous humour circulates inside the eye. The inflammation of the uvea brings about turbidity in this aqueous and the vitreous. The uveal inflammation can be associated the inflammation of the retina and thus can damage sight.
Symptoms of Uveitis –
- Light sensitivity
- Pain in and around the eye
- Blurred vision
- Redness of the eye
- Floaters
These symptoms may come suddenly and dramatically, or very slowly. And their intensity may range from severe to milder degree. Not all symptoms are seen in all kinds of uveitis.
If your eye becomes red and painful, it should therefore be examined by an eye specialist.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF UVEITIS
Depending upon the site of involvement, it can be –
- Iritis, Iridocyclitis [anterior uveitis]: When iris, the front part of ciliary body are inflamed.
- Pars-planitis, Cyclitis [intermediate uveitis]: When hind part of the ciliary body and the peripheral part of Retina are inflamed.
- Choroiditis, Chorioretinitis or Retinitis [posterior uveitis]: When choroid and or retina are inflamed.
- Pan or diffused uveitis. When all parts of uvea are inflamed.
Causes of Uveitis –
- Infections – By bacteria virus, fungus, protozoa, worms – eg. Tuberculosis, leprosy, shingles, tape worm infestations.
- Systemic inflammatory diseases eg. Arthritis, Saricoidosis.
- Cancers of the eye or other parts of the body.
- Injury to the eye.
But in more than fifty percentage of cases the cause remains unknown.
Diagnosis of Uveitis
Careful and detail microscopic examination of the inside of the eye is the main key to diagnosis.
To find out the cause of uveitis, the detail past and present medical history, blood tests, skin tests, tests on fluids of the eye or radiographic [X-ray, CT scan or MRI] examinations or referral to physician or other specialists might be necessary.
Treatment of Uveitis
The main stay of treatment is corticosteroid (a kind of anti-inflammatory agent) in various forms, like eye drops, eye injections, tablets or intravenous injections.
Specific treatment of the disease of the body may sometimes cure the uveitis.
But most of the cases are recurrent or become chronic. Therefore sometimes very strong medicines used in the treatment of cancer have to be used for a prolonged period.
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