Uveitis

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Eye

Visual field test

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Uveitis

Alternative Names:

Iritis; Pars planitis; Choroiditis; Chorioretinitis; Anterior uveitis; Posterior uveitis

Treatment:

Iritis is usually mild. Pain caused by spasm of the pupil constriction muscle is relieved by drops to dilate the pupil. Dark glasses may be helpful. Steroid eye drops or ointment may be needed. More severe cases require a search for an underlying cause.

Pars planitis is often treated with steroid eye drops, but may be treated with oral steroids or another type of medication to suppress the immune system.

Choroiditis requires determination of the underlying cause, and treatment of the underlying disease. The underlying disease may be serious, and additional specialists in infectious disease or autoimmunity may be needed for such diseases as syphilis, tuberculosis, AIDS, sarcoidosis, or Behcet's syndrome.

For systemic infectious diseases, corticosteroids are often used along with antibiotic therapy. For autoimmune diseases, various forms of suppression of the immune system may be required.

Expectations (prognosis):

In anterior uveitis, most attacks last from a few days to weeks with treatment, but relapses are common. In posterior uveitis, the inflammation may last from months to years and may cause permanent vision damage, even with treatment.

Complications:

Glaucoma
Cataracts
Fluid within the retina (cystoid macular edema)
Retinal detachment
Vision loss

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have symptoms of uveitis. If eye pain or reduced vision are present, this condition is more urgent that if symptoms are very mild.

Review Date: 8/16/2004
Reviewed By: Specific sections updated by Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D., Senior Medical Editor, A.D.A.M., Inc. Previously reviewed by Raymond S. Douglas M.D., Ph.D. Department of Ophthalmology, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (12/22/2002).

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