Did you know our eyes are the most important sense? Up to 80% of all our impressions are gathered from sight!
As you can see, this makes our eyes very vital organs. So you have to take good care of them to ensure they keep functioning right for you.
One of the things you should do is keep an eye out for any potential eye diseases or disorders that are developing. With early intervention, most are pretty treatable.
In this article, we’ll give you a brief overview of uveitis so you can be more aware of your eye health.
What Is Uveitis?
Uveitis isn’t actually one single disease; it’s actually a blanket term for any condition that causes inflammation in your uvea and the surrounding areas. The uvea is the middle layer of your eye, right behind the white part (sclera).
There are 3 types: anterior (front), intermediate (middle), and posterior (back). For some of the more severe cases, you can get all 3 types of uveitis at the same time.
Also, birdshot chorioretinopathy is a rare type of posterior uveitis that can happen in 1-3% of all uveitis cases. If you’re worried about it, you can always get a test here.
Causes of Uveitis
Because uveitis is a blanket term, there are many possible causes of it. They include:
- Bacterial infection
- Viral infection
- Injury to the eye
- Smoking
- Other underlying diseases (like juvenile arthritis or psoriasis)
This is why you should seek medical treatment if you suspect you have uveitis. A doctor can properly diagnose you and give you the right treatment.
Symptoms of Uveitis
If you have uveitis, symptoms that could occur include:
- Cloudy vision
- Blurry vision
- Floaters
- Redness and pain
- Inflammation
- Headaches
- Sensitivity to light
- Small pupils
For some people, symptoms can come on slowly. For others, it can be a rapid change.
Uveitis Treatment
Uveitis is the 5th leading cause of vision loss in our nation. However, the good news is, with quick and early treatment, people usually recover from this condition.
Because uveitis can be caused by a number of things, the best thing to do is to see a doctor promptly. They can get to the root of your issues and know exactly what’s causing the pain and inflammation.
The type of treatment you’ll get will depend on what’s caused your uveitis. Treatment can include:
- Antibiotics
- Antiviral medications
- Corticosteroids
- Immunosuppressants
- Mydriatic eye drops
To diagnose your issue, an opthalmologist will examine your eye. They’ll often also order additional tests, such as blood tests, skin tests, imaging, and X-rays. In this case, you will have to pay a visit to a phlebotomist. (Visit Phlebotomy Near You to get information about phlebotomists). This, plus a thorough history of your health, can help your physician give you an accurate diagnosis and therefore, effective treatment.
Know the Signs of Uveitis
Now you know how to spot the signs of uveitis and what to do if you suspect you have it. Considering early action is crucial to your recovery, make sure you see a doctor as soon as you think you have uveitis. Your vision will depend on a quick diagnosis and treatment!
For more informative health articles, please take a look at the rest of our blog section.
