What is Uveitis?
Uveitis consists of a group of diseases characterized by
significant sight threatening intraocular inflammation primarily
involving the uveal tract (iris, ciliary body, and choroid),
although inflammation of adjacent tissues, such as retina, optic
nerve, and vitreous humor also occurs.
Little is known about the pathogenesis of uveitis, but in cases of
endogenous uveitis in which no link with an infectious agent can
be identified, autoimmunity has been invoked as the cause. Many
cases are often labelled as idiopathic, but in some it may be part
of systemic disease process, such as sarcoidosis, multiple
sclerosis, and Behçet’s disease, or associated with the HLA-B27
positive group of diseases. Infectious agents, such as the herpes
group of viruses, toxoplasma gondii, mycobacterium tuberculosis,
and treponema pallidum are also well-recognized causes.
Uveitis mainly occurs in the 20-50 year age group, and can affect
one or both eyes. The incidence of uveitis varies from 14 to
52.4/100,000 with the overall prevalence around the world is up to
0.73%. A recent study found that the extrapolated 10-year
incidence of uveitis was almost three times higher than that
reported almost 40 years previously. Most uveitis patients present
at an age where they are in the most active period of their
working life. In about half the patients the age of onset is in
the third or fourth decade of life. This age distribution makes
uveitis a group of ocular diseases with an important socioeconomic
impact.
Many cases will resolve rapidly, but a significant number of
patients develop persistent disease with inflammatory damage to
ocular structures resulting in severe visual impairment. The main
causes of sight loss are cystoid macular edema, cataract, and
glaucoma.
Approximately 5-20% of legal blindness in developed countries is
due to uveitis, and it has been estimated that uveitis accounts
for 10-15% of all cases of total blindness in the USA. Acute
anterior uveitis is the commonest subtype and carries the best
visual outcome, with a worse visual prognosis seen in patients
with posterior uveitis and panuveitis.
In non-infectious causes, therapy is usually aimed at dampening
down the immune response with corticosteroids being the first line
treatment. In sight threatening disease immunosuppressive agents
may need to be added to improve or preserve sight.
what
are the Symptoms?
Uveitis can affect one or both eyes. Symptoms may develop rapidly
and can include:
* Blurred vision
*Dark, floating spots in the vision
* Eye pain
* Redness of the eye
* Sensitivity to light
Signs and tests
A complete medical history and eye examination should be
performed. Laboratory tests may be done to rule out infection or
an autoimmune disorder.
Persons over age 25 with pars planitis should have an MRI of their
brain and spine to rule out multiple sclerosis.
what are the Treatment?
Iritis is usually mild. Treatment may involve:
* Dark glasses
* Eye drops that dilate the pupil to relieve pain
* Steroid eye drops
Pars planitis is often treated with steroid eye drops. Other
medicines, including steroids taken by mouth, may be prescribed to
help suppress the immune system.
Posterior uveitis treatment depends on the underlying cause but
almost always includes steroids taken by mouth. Additional
specialists in infectious disease or autoimmunity may be needed
for such diseases as syphilis, tuberculosis, AIDS, sarcoidosis, or
Behcet syndrome.
If the uveitis is caused by a body-wide infection, treatment may
involve antibiotics and powerful anti-inflammatory medicines
called corticosteroids. See autoimmune disorders for information
on treating such diseases.
Expectations (prognosis)
With proper treatment, most attacks of anterior uveitis go away in
a few days to weeks. However, relapses are common.
Inflammation related to posterior uveitis may last from months to
years and may cause permanent vision damage, even with treatment.
Complications
* Cataracts
* Fluid within the retina
* Glaucoma
* Retinal detachment
* Vision loss
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