What are the symptoms of uveitis and how can you treat it?

What is uveitis and what causes it?

Uveitis is a rare eye condition which results in inflammation of the eye. It affects between 2-5 in every 10,000 people in the UK each year. It is the third leading cause of blindness in the UK. Uveitis affects your uvea which is made up of three parts of the eye: the iris, the ciliary body and the choroid. You can read more about the structure of the human eye in a previous blog post of ours here. To give a brief overview, the choroid sits between the retina (the back of your eye) and the sclera (the white outer part of your eye). Your uvea facilitates blood flow to your retina which is what allows you to see and have good vision. Any changes to your uvea, therefore, can be very dangerous for your sight.

There are four different types of uveitis and the type which you develop is entirely dependent on which part of your eye is affected.

• Anterior/iritis uveitis – the front of your eye (the iris, which is the coloured portion of your eye) is inflamed
• Intermediate/cyclitis uveitis – the ciliary body is inflamed
• Posterior/choroiditis and retinitis uveitis – the back of your eye is inflamed
• Panuveitis/diffuse uveitis – all parts of your uvea are inflamed

Uveitis is typically caused by eye trauma, infection, or viral or bacterial infections. It can also occur as a result of autoimmune conditions such as Crohn’s disease, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis, or as a medication side effect. Sometimes, your immune system can become overactive in your eye, triggering uveitis. In half of cases, however, no clear cause is found for the onset of uveitis.

Uveitis can also last for different lengths of time. The NHS describes these types of uveitis as:

• Acute uveitis – develops quickly and improves within a three month window
• Recurrent uveitis – regular occurrences of the condition, flaring up every few months
• Chronic uveitis – inflammation returns within three months of treatment

What are the symptoms of uveitis?

The symptoms of uveitis often come on quickly with no prior warning, and they can worsen very quickly. Some of the most common symptoms are:

• Light sensitivity
• Blurry vision
• Flashes appearing in your visual field
• Red eyes
• Eye pain
• Floaters
• Loss of peripheral vision

Uveitis typically affects those aged between 20 and 50, although it can also occur in teenagers and younger children. It’s important that you monitor any changes in your vision and react quickly to them; the sooner you can be diagnosed, the better the chances are of receiving sight-saving treatment.

You should be particularly vigilant when it comes to monitoring these visual symptoms if you have had a tattoo recently. Some experts have found a link between black tattoo ink and uveitis, suggesting that the ink forces an immune response to impact both your eyes and skin.

If you experience the above symptoms, the next step in your uveitis journey is to receive a formal diagnosis. You will need to visit an ophthalmologist for this who, using a slit lamp which emits light, will examine the inside of your eye. This will enable them to see if there is any inflammation in your eye; if you do have uveitis, they will see white blood cells and proteins in your eye fluid.

How can uveitis be treated?

With uveitis, the quicker you seek treatment, the better the chances are of saving your sight. In fact, most uveitis patients who receive treatment promptly will usually recover. This highlights the importance of monitoring any visual changes closely and visiting your optician if anything seems different.

In terms of the treatment itself, the type of medication prescribed will differ according to which part of the eye is affected by uveitis. For anterior uveitis which affects the front of your eye, you will likely be given special eye drops. For intermediate and posterior uveitis (affecting the middle and back of the eye), injections, tablets and capsules are the usual form of treatment. More serious instances of uveitis could also require surgery to rectify the problem. For any discomfort you suffer as a result of the condition, you may be prescribed painkillers and eye drops to minimise the pain.

What complications can occur as a result of uveitis?

Uveitis can cause a number of complications, although the quicker you are treated, the lower your chances are of developing issues later on. Some of the most common complications associated with uveitis are:

• Cataracts
• Retinal swelling (known as macular edema)
• Retinal detachment
• Permanent loss of vision
• Scar tissue
• Optic nerve damage

You are more likely to experience these complications if you have intermediate or posterior uveitis. These conditions can also put your vision at risk so it’s important to stay vigilant after your uveitis diagnosis, even if you have received treatment and since recovered. Your sight is perhaps your most important sense, so having regular eye tests with your optician should help you to monitor any changes and seek early treatment for a condition, such as uveitis, should you need it.