Uvea & Ocular Inflammation
-Clearing the Path to Healthy Eyes-
Uvea & Ocular Inflammation at
Nethra Foundations
The eye is an important sense organ. It is made up of 3 coats. The outer coat is the cornea and sclera. The middle coat is the uveal tract and the inner coat is the retina. The uveal tract consists of 3 parts. The iris is the visible part of the uvea and gives color to the eye (blue, black, brown). The ciliary body is the middle layer of the uvea which manufactures the fluid inside the eye. The choroid is the posterior layer of the uvea which is rich in blood vessels. Inflammation or swelling in any of the part of the uveal tract is called uveitis. Depending on the location of inflammation, it is called anterior uveitis (iris and ciliary body is involved), intermediate uveitis (ciliary body and the vitreous is involved), posterior uveitis (choroids and retina involved), panuveitisd (all layers of the uveal tract are involved).
Symptoms of Uveitis
- Pain
- Redness
- Inability to see light (photophobia)
- Black spots moving in front of the eye
- Blurring or reduction in vision
- Eye Irritation
Question & Answer
What is Uvea?
The eyeball has three coats. The middle layer is called uvea. It has three parts, anterior iris , middle ciliary body and posterior choroid.It has a rich blood supply and a strong immune system. That’s why it is prone to immune reactions.
What is Uveitis?
Inflammation of the uvea is uveitis. It may be due to autoimmune causes like rheumatoid arthritis or infections which may be viral, bacterial or tuberculosis.
Is Uveitis Curable?
If the cause of uveitis is infection it can be completely cured with the appropriate treatment.If it is due to autoimmune causes, it can be controlled with medications. However like all autoimmune conditions, uveitis can also be recurrent or chronic. In such conditions, the treatment may be prolonged.
What are the Investigations for Uveitis?
Ocular investigations include fundus fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, B scan ultrasound and UBM.Systemic investigations include blood tests and radiological imaging.
Periodic Follow Up Is Essential
Follow-up examinations ensure optimal therapy is being given and guard against possible complications. Uveitis, if caught early and treated diligently and appropriately, will often resolve without serious consequences.