Inflammation of the uvea and its surrounding tissue is referred to as Uveitis and is caused due to a varied range of disorders. Uvea is the middle layer of the eye. In simple terms, when the eye becomes red and swollen/inflamed it is known as Uveitis.
Symptoms of Uveitis:
The redness and swelling/inflammation are part of the body’s response to infection or illness. Uveitis happens when there are problems with the body’s response to fight against the infection (immunity system). The malfunctioning of the body’s immune system, where it attacks the body’s healthy tissues and organs is known as an autoimmune disorder.
Apart from the swelling and redness, a patient suffering from uveitis may experience:
- Pain in the eye
- Blurry vision
- Light sensitivity, also known as photophobia
- Floaters
- Headache
Uveitis in children is often asymptomatic. Consulting an eye specialist in Vadodara is the only way uveitis can be diagnosed in children.
Uveitis can happen to anyone – from children to the elderly and can affect one or both eyes. The signs show up suddenly and the symptoms progress quickly. Uveitis is a serious condition that must be attended to by an eye specialist immediately. If left untreated, it can even lead to irreversible complications such as complete loss of vision.
Causes of Uveitis:
The causes of uveitis aren’t clear most of the time. However, some factors seem to be concurrent with uveitis such as:
- Infections of the eye
- Autoimmune and inflammatory disorders
- Injury to the eye
- Surgery
- A side-effect of a medication
- Cancer that affects the eye (though this is very rare)
Infections that can cause uveitis:
Some infections are more common as the cause of uveitis. These are:
- Herpes
- Syphilis
- Tuberculosis
- Toxoplasmosis
- Cat-scratch disease
- Toxocariasis
- Leptospirosis
- Shingles
- HIV/AIDS
- Brucellosis
- Lyme disease
Is uveitis a bacterial infection?
Uveitis can either be caused by a viral or bacterial infection. However, it is crucial to diagnose where the uveitis is caused by a bacterial or viral infection so that the best eye infection treatment in Vadodara can be started immediately.
Treatment of Uveitis:
Before treating uveitis, it is necessary to diagnose the cause. This can be done by an eye infection specialist in Vadodara.
Treatment of uveitis focuses on reducing the inflammation and swelling of the eye and treating the underlying condition that caused it in the first place. Depending upon the cause of uveitis, treatment can be a combination of medication and surgical procedures.
Medications may include anti-inflammatory drugs, medication to control bacterial and viral infections, drugs to reduce spasms and immunosuppressive medications, in severe cases. This can be combined with surgical options like vitrectomy and placing a medication-releasing implant in the eye. The implant slowly releases corticosteroids for about 2 to 3 years in the eye.
The recovery speed from uveitis depends upon the type and severity of uveitis. The location of the uveitis also plays a major role in recovery. Uveitis in the front of the eye tends to heal more quickly than uveitis in the back of the eye.
Uveitis also tends to recur. Regular follow-up visits with your doctor are mandatory and must not be missed.
Dr Aanal Shah is an expert in eye infection & uveitis treatment in Vadodara.
FAQs
What infections can cause uveitis?
Some common infections that can cause uveitis include:
•Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
•Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)
•Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
•Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
•Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
How to treat eye infections?
There are a few different ways to treat eye infections, depending on the type of infection. Bacterial eye infections can be treated with antibiotics, while viral infections often clear up on their own. Fungal infections may be treated with antifungal medication, and parasitic infections may require medication to get rid the parasites.
How long does it take to recover from uveitis?
Most people recover from uveitis within a few weeks, but some people may have more serious cases that require long-term treatment.