Ocular Inflammation (Uveitis)

• The iris: Functions as a shutter, enlarging and constricting to control the amount of light entering the eye.
  
• The ciliary body: Supports the muscles that allow the lens to change shape, focusing light onto the retina. 
  
• The choroid: Rich in blood vessels that supply the eye with oxygen and nutrients.

• Anterior uveitis, also known as iritis or iridocyclitis, affects the iris or ciliary body. 
• Intermediate uveitis, including vitritis and pars planitis, affects the middle part of the eye, that is, vitreous and pars plana.
• Posterior uveitis, including retinitis, choroiditis, chorioretinitis and neuroretinitis, affects the retina and choroid. 
• Panuveitis, when inflammation involves the whole uveal tract.

• Uveitis may result from a wide variety of causes, including including bacterial infections and viral infections, especially herpes viruses, fungal infections and parasitic infections such as toxoplasmosis;
• Autoimmune diseases;
• Severe injury to the affected eye or to the fellow eye in the past ( i.e., sympathetic ophthalmia);
• Drug-related causes; 
• Cancer, i.e., masquerade syndromes; and
• Idiopathic origins.

To diagnose uveitis accurately, an ophthalmologist will conduct a thorough eye examination, including vision assessment and fundus examination. Given the  association of uveitis with various medical conditions, additional investigations such as blood tests, skin tests, or X-rays may be necessary to determine the type and cause of inflammation. While these investigations involve time and some costs, they are crucial for an accurate diagnosis and to identify the underlying cause, enabling optimal treatment planning.

Given the potential connection between uveitis and systemic health, your ophthalmologist may seek expert opinions from your primary care physician or other medical specialists.

• Relieve pain and discomfort 
  
• Prevent vision loss from the disease and its complications 
  
• Treat the underlying cause of disease where possible

Left untreated, inflammation of the eye can permanently affect sight and even lead to blindness. Uveitis may result in the following complications:

• Glaucoma (raised eye pressure) ;
• Cataract (clouding of the native lens of human eyes);
• Neovascularization (growth of new, abnormal blood vessels); and
• Cystoid Macular Oedema (swelling of the macula).
  

These complications may occur in chronic and severe eye inflammation.  Specialist care is essential to appropriate management of your eye condition.