Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ataş from the Department of Ophthalmology at Memorial Kayseri Hospital gave information about uveitis.
Uveitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the part of the eye called 'uvea'. Uveitis, which usually starts suddenly and worsens rapidly, is characterized by redness, pain and blurred vision. Inflammation affects all tissues in the eye and can cause serious vision loss if treatment is delayed. While treatment is often successful, uveitis can sometimes become chronic and take a long time to treat. For this reason, early diagnosis is of great importance. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ataş from the Department of Ophthalmology at Memorial Kayseri Hospital gave information about uveitis.
“4 million cases are detected every year”
Uveitis, which can affect one or both eyes, can occur in people of all ages and in children. It is commonly seen between the ages of 20-60. Studies have shown that this problem affects 38 people out of 100 thousand people. Approximately 4 million new cases occur worldwide every year. It is estimated that 30 thousand people in the USA lose their eyesight every year due to uveitis. Uveitis is more common in adults and is more likely to occur with increasing age. It is less common in children, accounting for only 2 percent to 20 percent of cases. The uvea is the middle layer of the eye between the sclera (the white part of the eye) and the retina (the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye). The uvea has 3 parts: the iris (the colored part of the eye), the ciliary body (the part of the eye that helps the lens focus) and the choroid (the vascular layer that feeds the eye).
Where in the eye the inflammation is located matters
Classification of uveitis is particularly useful in terms of diagnosis and choice of treatment, and is a guide in research. In classification according to anatomical location, the type of uveitis is determined depending on which part or parts of the eye are inflamed. Anterior uveitis affects the front of the eye (between the cornea and iris) and the ciliary body. It is also called iritis and is the most common type of uveitis. Intermediate uveitis affects the retina and blood vessels just behind the lens, as well as the gel in the center of the eye. Posterior uveitis affects the retina or choroid layer at the back of the eye. Panuveitis occurs when all layers of the uvea, from the front to the back of the eye, become inflamed.
The 7 most common symptoms of uveitis
Uveitis symptoms can vary depending on which part of the eye it affects.
The most common is anterior uveitis. It affects the iris and ciliary body and the symptoms are usually visible to the patient and others. Precursor symptoms include an increase in floaters, which can be noticed by the person themselves, and gaps or missing parts of the visual field in the affected eye. Symptoms of anterior uveitis include eye pain, red eye, blurred vision, light sensitivity (photophobia), swelling of the conjunctiva, the layer that covers the white and transparent part of the eye and the inside of the eyelids, change in the shape of the pupil (from a circle to an irregular shape) and accumulation of white fluid in the lower part of the front of your eye (hypopyon).
It is possible to prevent the disease with early diagnosis
Possible causes of uveitis are infection, injury, autoimmune (related to the immune system) or inflammatory disease. In 50-70 percent of cases, the cause cannot be determined despite all researches. It is possible to prevent this disease, which causes serious vision loss, with early diagnosis and treatment. The most likely known causes are infections, systemic causes, injuries and medications.
Infections occur when germs (pathogens) enter your body and cause damage. Uveitis due to infection usually affects only one eye at a time.
