What is Uveitis?

Uveitis is an eye inflammation that affects the middle layer of the eye. This layer is called the Uvea. When the Uvea is inflamed, you may get eye pain, eye redness, or blurred vision. Uveitis can cause permanent vision loss and should be treated right away.

Causes:

Uveitis is caused by a number of factors. These include:

• Infection by bacteria (such as M.Tuberculosis, M.Leprae, or syphilis)
• Infection by virus
• Infection by a parasite
• Autoimmune disease
• Eye injury

In some cases, the exact cause is unknown.

Symptoms

If you have Uveitis, you may experience symptoms like

• Sensitivity to light (Photophobia)
• Blurred vision
• Eye pain
• Eye redness
• Seeing Floaters (shapes that move across your field of vision)

It is very serious and should be treated right away. Without treatment, it can lead to glaucoma, cataract, and vision loss.

Treatment Options

Uveitis is often caused by infections. These infections can affect your entire body. Your eye doctor can treat your eyes, but other treatments may be needed to control the disease in the rest of the body. The goal of treatment is to:

• Relieve pain
• Stop vision loss
• Treat the infection or disease that caused Uveitis

There is no cure for Uveitis. However, it can be controlled. For diseases like Tuberculosis (TB) or Leprosy, there is a specific treatment. But since the cause of Uveitis can vary, the exact treatment will depend on your case. Eye inflammation is usually treated with corticosteroids or newer drugs (like immunosuppressives).

Remember: the earlier the treatment, the more likely it is that your sight can be saved!