Symptoms of Uveitis : Causes, Types, and Treatment

Comprehensive Guide to Uveitis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Eye health is one of the most critical factors. Of the different diseases affecting the eyes that cause vision impairment, uveitis is particularly concerning because, if left untreated, it can cause blindness. This inflammatory condition affects the uveal tract of the eye and proves troublesome in diagnosis and management due to its vast diversity in causes and manifestations.

Continue reading the blog to learn about uveitis symptoms, causes, classification, and treatment.

What is Uveitis?

Uveitis is the inflammation of the uveal tract, the third layer of the eye. It consists of three primary structures: the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. These are vital in maintaining the eye's vascular supply, light regulation, and focus functions. When this tract becomes inflamed, it is called uveitis.

There are two types of this condition: acute and chronic. While a chronic infection might last for months or return regularly, an acute infection can only last a few weeks to a month.

Although it usually affects people between 20 and 50, it can also impact young people and the elderly. As a result, problems like cataracts or glaucoma could arise and cause lifelong blindness.

Symptoms of Uveitis

The uveitis symptoms usually impact the wounded portion of the eye with severe inflammation. Moreover, some general symptoms include:

Redness: Persistent redness in the eye is caused by irritation and inflammation.
Eye Pain: Varying from mild discomfort to intense, throbbing pain.
Photophobia: Sensitivity to light makes opening eyes in bright environments difficult.
Blurred Vision: A typical early sign which indicates underlying inflammation.
Floaters: Black or grey spots, strings, or webs in the vision field are caused by vitreous humour inflammation.
Vision Loss: Partial or complete, depending on the severity and area affected.

Uveitis symptoms may arise suddenly or develop gradually, and their intensity can vary widely among individuals. When these symptoms appear, prompt medical attention is crucial.

Causes of Uveitis

The causes of uveitis are complicated and mostly multifactorial. These can be split into infectious, non-infectious, and idiopathic categories:

1. Infectious Causes

Bacterial Infections: Tuberculosis, Syphilis, and Lyme disease.
Viral Infections: Herpes simplex virus (HSV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and HIV.
Fungal Infections: Candida or histoplasmosis, common in immunocompromised individuals.
Parasitic Infections: Toxoplasmosis is one of the leading causes of posterior uveitis.

2. Non-Infectious Causes

Autoimmune Disorders: Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus often trigger uveitis.
HLA-B27-Related Conditions: Ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis.
Trauma or Surgery: Eye injuries or post-operative complications.

3. Idiopathic

In about 30%-50% of cases, the exact cause of uveitis remains unidentified. Even without a known trigger, timely treatment is essential to prevent damage.

Types of Uveitis

Uveitis types are classified based on the part of the uveal tract affected:

1. Anterior Uveitis

Anterior uveitis involves the iris and anterior chamber.
Symptoms: Redness, pain, and photophobia.
Common Causes: Autoimmune disorders, infections, or trauma.

2. Intermediate Uveitis

Affects the ciliary body and vitreous humour.
Symptoms: Blurred vision and floaters, typically without pain.
Common Causes: Sarcoidosis, multiple sclerosis, or idiopathic.

3. Posterior Uveitis

Posterior uveitis involves the retina and choroid.
Symptoms: Vision loss, floaters, and difficulty focusing.
Common Causes: Toxoplasmosis and other systemic infections.

4.Panuveitis

Panuveitis typically causes inflammation and affects the entire uveal tract.
Symptoms: Severe pain, blurred vision, and floaters.
Common Causes: Behçet’s disease, systemic infections, or autoimmune disorders.

Correct classification will help guide your treatment and predict outcomes, for which proper diagnosis is essential for your convenience.

Diagnosis of Uveitis

Uveitis diagnosis requires clinical assessment, imaging, and laboratory tests combined with a detailed history.
Diagnostic Techniques

1. Clinical Ophthalmologic Examination:

Slit-lamp evaluation for anterior segment analysis.
Fundoscopy to evaluate the posterior eye structures.

2. Laboratory Tests

Blood studies to check for systemic infection or conditions.
Serology for certain pathogens, such as toxoplasmosis or syphilis.

3. Imaging

Optical Coherence Tomography: To detect alterations in the retina.
Fluorescein Angiography: For the examination of retinal circulation.
MRI or CT Scans: For suspected systemic involvement.

4. Invasive Testing

Aqueous or vitreous humour sampling for resistant or atypical cases.

Treatment of Uveitis

It aims at the minimization of inflammation, alleviation of symptoms, and treatment of the underlying cause. The treatment strategy is given, considering the cause, type, and severity of uveitis in the eye:

1. Medications

Corticosteroids: This is the first-line therapy when trying to manage inflammation is the goal. These come with eye drop solutions, which can also be oral tablets or injections.
Immunosuppressive Agents: Prescribed for severe or persistent conditions, medications include methotrexate, cyclosporine or azathioprine.
Antibiotics/Antivirals: When uveitis is infectious, for instance, when it results from toxoplasmosis or herpes.
Biologic Agents: Currently used biological agents, especially anti-TNF agents such as infliximab and adalimumab, are helpful in autoimmune-related uveitis.

2. Surgery

Vitrectomy: Removal of the vitreous humour in cases with severe complications.
Cataract/Glaucoma Surgery: For secondary issues caused by chronic inflammation.

3. Supportive Care

Pain Management: Using over-the-counter analgesics for mild discomfort.
Protective Measures: Wear sunglasses to manage light sensitivity.

Complications of Uveitis

Uveitis left untreated can have severe complications, including:

1. Cataracts

It is the clouding of the eye’s lens.

2. Glaucoma

Increased intraocular pressure leads to optic nerve damage.

3. Retinal Detachment

Retinal Detachment is a rare but vision-threatening complication.

4. Vision Loss

Permanent loss of sight due to structural damage.

Managing Uveitis

Patients with uveitis can adopt many lifestyle adjustments to manage the condition well, some of which are:

Follow-Up Care: Complete eye examination to control the disease.
Adherence to Treatment: Adherence to the recommended drugs.
Healthy Lifestyle: Three basic aspects of any individual’s lifestyle should be controlled to enhance their general well-being: nutrition, water intake, and sleep.
Awareness: Recognising the signs of when to go to the hospital as soon as possible.

Uveitis is a severe eye disease that should be appropriately diagnosed and treated. Its signs, causes, and types help patients and caregivers prevent potential complications by participating actively in prevention.

Moreover, uveitis treatment can be expensive. Therefore, it is ideal to opt for comprehensive health insurance like Star Health and reduce the hefty financial load and worries.

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FAQ

Can stress cause uveitis?

While stress may not be a direct cause, it surely can exacerbate autoimmune conditions that are provoked to cause uveitis.

Is there any permanent cure for uveitis?

There is no permanent cure for uveitis, but it may be controlled, and symptoms lessened.

Can children develop uveitis?

Yes, children can get uveitis. Often, this is associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis or infections.