If you suddenly develop red, swollen, and inflamed eyes followed by blurred vision and sensitivity to light, don’t procrastinate. Make an appointment with Retina Specialists of Tampa for a diagnosis. Keep reading to find out about uveitis and why it needs to be treated.
Causes Of Uveitis
Uveitis is an inflammation in your eye. Your immune system could be fighting an infection OR it can also occur when that same immune system begins to attack healthy tissues in your eyes. It damages a part of the eye known as the uvea or the middle layer of the eye.
Half the time the actual cause of uveitis is not clear, but there are some possible causes:
- An autoimmune or inflammatory disorder like MS, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s disease
- An infection like herpes zoster, shingles, Lyme disease, syphilis, or TB
- Side effect of a medication
- An eye injury or surgery
It can also be associated with smoking, AIDS, and psoriasis.
Why Uveitis Needs To Be Treated
Let’s start with 300,00 Americans lose their vision each year due to uveitis. If not treated as soon as possible, you can develop side effects or risks like retinal swelling (macular edema), retinal scarring, glaucoma, cataracts, damage to the optic nerve, retinal detachment, and permanent vision loss.
Treatment will slow the progression of the disease and restore any lost vision. Unfortunately, uveitis can come back after treatment. For this reason regular eye exams with Retina Specialists of Tampa in Tampa, Wesley Chapel, and Lakeland are essential to protect your vision.
Treatments
Treatments will consist of several types of medications to reduce inflammation like a corticosteroid. This can be administered via an eye drop, an injection, or as an oral medication.
Other drugs can be used to control spasms, whereas others treat bacteria and viruses.
Surgery can be performed as a last resort.
The most important message about uveitis is do not wait to see Retina Specialists of Tampa if you have symptoms.
Contact Retina Specialists of Tampa at (813) 973-3333 if you have symptoms of uveitis. Make an appointment right away to protect your vision.
