Pink Eye? It Could Be Uveitis
Ever heard of uveitis?
It's a term used to describe a group of inflammatory diseases that primarily affect the uvea, the middle layer of the eye containing much of its blood vessels. Uveitis can affect anyone at any age and could cause blindness. What may appear to be a simple case of conjunctivitis, or "pink eye," may be more serious, so immediate treatment by an eye care professional is critical.
Knowing the symptoms and causes of this condition also is important.
The layer of the eye between the sclera (the white portion of the eye) and retina, the uvea is made up of the iris, ciliary body, and choroid, areas that nourish key parts of the eye, including the lens. Although the uvea is commonly affected by uveitis, essentially any part of the eye, including the optic nerve and vitreous, can be affected. In addition to vision loss, uveitis could lead to such conditions as glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal detachment. One or both eyes can be affected.
Symptoms of uveitis, depending on the type of inflammation, can either come on suddenly or develop gradually. They include:
- Blurred vision
- Redness
- Pain
- Sensitivity to light (or photophobia)
- Dark, floating spots in the vision
There are four types of uveitis:
- Anterior uveitis, the most common form of uveitis, occurring at the front of the eye. Anterior uveitis mostly occurs in young and middle-aged people, and some cases are associated with rheumatologic, skin, gastrointestinal, lung and infectious diseases, according to the National Eye Institute (NEI).
- Intermediate uveitis, inflammation in the middle or intermediate region of the eye, commonly seen in young adults. This form has been linked to disorders such as sarcoidosis and multiple sclerosis.
- Posterior uveitis, the least common form of uveitis, primarily affecting the back parts of the eye. Also known as choroditis or chorioretinitis, there are many infectious and non-infectious causes of this form of uveitis, the NEI says.
- Pan-uveitis, occurring when all layers of the uvea become inflamed.
Intermediate, posterior, and pan-uveitis are the most severe and highly recurrent forms of uveitis, and often cause blindness if left untreated, the NEI says. In many cases, the exact cause of uveitis is unknown, but possible causes include: an autoimmune disorder, infections or tumors within the eye or other parts of the body, an inflammatory disease, a bruise or other eye injury, surgery, or toxins that somehow penetrate the eye. Some studies have also identified smoking as a risk factor for uveitis.
Other diseases associated with uveitis include:
- AIDS
- Herpes zoster infection
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Syphilis
- Tuberculosis
- Psoriasis
Treatment for uveitis may also target an underlying condition, but for the most part the goal of treatment is to reduce inflammation in the eye and prevent further tissue damage and/or vision loss. The most common type of treatment is corticosteroid eye drops. However, more severe forms of uveitis may require oral medication (such as immunosuppressive agents), injections around the eye(s), or surgery.
If you have "pinkeye" that doesn't resolve quickly, you should schedule an eye exam with your ophthalmologist as soon as possible. Uveitis is one of many conditions treated at The Krieger Eye Institute at LifeBridge Health. To schedule an appointment, call 410-601-2020.