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Uveitis
Symptoms
Uveitis consists of inflammatory conditions involving the middle layer of the eye called the uvea. It can occur at any age and present with various symptoms such as:
- Eye redness
- Pain
- Light sensitivity
- Blurred vision
- Floaters
Causes
The underlying cause of uveitis is not always apparent on examination alone. Diagnosis usually requires additional imaging and laboratory testing. The two major causes of uveitis are autoimmune disorders and infections. Less common causes include trauma, drug use, and rarely, cancers such as lymphoma or leukemia.
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
- Sarcoidosis
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
Uveitis can present with little to no symptoms in some while others develop severe excruciating pain. If left untreated, uveitis can lead to irreversible blindness. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are very important for the prevention of vision loss.
How Uveitis is Evaluated?
Evaluation of uveitis requires expertise and primary healthcare workers might not be able to diagnose it in the initial stages.
The tests required for uveitis diagnosis involve:
Uveitis Treatment
Our highly qualified doctors use advanced technology for accurate diagnosis and treatments. Diagnosing and getting uveitis under control can be a long journey and can become frustrating for many suffering from the disease. It is important to follow up frequently while on therapy to monitor disease progression and side-effects of therapy.
Steroids
The first approach for treating uveitis is steroids. These steroids can be given as eye drops, in injection around the eye, oral pills, and intravenously. In some cases, small steroid implants are placed in the eye for a sustained drug dose.
Immunosuppressive Medications
Uveitis is sometimes caused by autoimmune disorders. Immunosuppressive medicines are prescribed to control the over action of the immune system. It is a long-term treatment and requires blood tests to monitor side effects. Depending on the underlying cause of uveitis we will employ a multi-specialty approach to administer medications in conjunction with rheumatologists and other specialists.
