UVEITIS

Uveitis is inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, called the uvea or uveal tract. It can cause eye pain and changes to your vision. Most cases get better with treatment – usually steroid medicine. But sometimes uveitis can lead to further eye problems such as glaucoma and cataracts.

The sooner uveitis is treated, the more successful treatment is likely to be.

Symptoms of uveitis include:

• eye pain – usually a dull ache in or around your eye, which may be worse when focusing
• eye redness
• sensitivity to light (photophobia)
• blurred or cloudy vision
• small shapes moving across your field of vision (floaters)
• loss of the ability to see objects at the side of your field of vision (peripheral vision)

The symptoms can develop suddenly or gradually over a few days. One or both eyes may be affected by uveitis.

There are different types of uveitis, depending on which part of the eye is affected:

• uveitis at the front of the eye (anterior uveitis or iritis) – this can cause redness and pain and tends to start quickly. This is the most common type of uveitis, accounting for about 3 in 4 cases
• uveitis in the middle of the eye (intermediate uveitis) – this can cause floaters and blurred vision
• uveitis at the back of the eye (posterior uveitis) – this can cause vision problems

Uveitis can sometimes affect both the front and the back of the eye. This is known as panuveitis.

Uveitis can also be described according to how long it lasts. For example:

• acute uveitis – uveitis that develops quickly and improves within 3 months
• recurrent uveitis – where there are repeated episodes of inflammation separated by gaps of several months
• chronic uveitis – where the inflammation lasts longer and returns within 3 months of stopping treatment

Steroid medicine is the main treatment for uveitis. It can help reduce inflammation inside your eye.

Different types of steroid medicines are recommended, depending on the type of uveitis. For example:

• eyedrops are often used for uveitis that affects the front of the eye
• injections, tablets and capsules are usually used to treat uveitis that affects the middle and back of the eye

Additional treatment may also be needed. This might be eyedrops to relieve pain or in some cases, surgery.

Surgery

Rarely, an operation called a vitrectomy may be needed to treat uveitis. It’s usually only recommended if you have repeated or severe uveitis, or if the condition is caused by certain infections.

A vitrectomy involves gently sucking out the jelly-like substance that fills the inside of the eye (vitreous humour). It can be done using either a general anaesthetic or a local anaesthetic. During the operation, the fluid inside your eye will be temporarily replaced with either a bubble of air or gas (or a mixture of the 2), or a liquid substitute. Eventually, the vitreous humour will naturally replace itself.

Like all operations, a vitrectomy carries a risk of complications. These include needing further surgery and an increased risk of developing cataracts.