Uveitis

What are the primary types of uveitis?

To give you an idea of the breadth and scope of uveitis, the term is derived from the Latin words, “uva” and “itis,” which mean “grape” and “inflammation,” respectively. In other words, uveitis is any inflammation that occurs in your uvea, which is the middle layer of tissue in your eye.

Uveitis is often associated with systemic autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis and inflammatory bowel disease. With Dr. Rosenbaum's fellowship training, he is often able to find the underlying etiology and tailor treatment to treat the underlying disease as well.

There are several forms of uveitis, including:

Iritis

This is the most common form of ocular inflammation, and it’s typically confined to the iris and ciliary body in the anterior part of your eye.

Scleritis

Scleritis is inflammation of your sclera, or the white part of your eye. This condition is more common in females, especially in their 40s and 50s.

Pars planitis

Typically referred to as intermediate uveitis, this condition causes inflammation in the intermediate part of your eye immediately behind your lens.

White dot syndrome

This is a group of idiopathic choroidal inflammatory diseases that are characterized by the appearance of white spots on your retina.

Panuveitis

This serious condition affects the front, middle, and back of your eye.

Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid

This is a rare autoimmune disorder that affects your eyes.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome

This is a rare disorder that affects your skin and mucous membranes.

Pediatric uveitis

Uveitis is the third leading cause of blindness in the world with up to 10% of cases occurring in children under the age of 16. The most common causes of pediatric uveitis are herpes simplex virus, Toxocara, and congenital syphilis.

What are the symptoms of uveitis?

Given the broad range of conditions that fall under uveitis, it’s difficult to come up with a single list of symptoms. Many of these different iterations come with pain and redness as well as vision loss or distortion. You may also experience sensitivity to light. As well, you may find floaters in your field of vision.

The bottom line is that if you’re in discomfort, or you’re having problems with your vision, it’s a good idea to have Dr. Rosenbaum take a look because uveitis can progress quickly and cause irreversible damage.

How is uveitis treated?

It depends on the cause of your inflammation. If your uveitis is infectious, your doctor treats the infection. If your problem stems from an autoimmune disorder, anti-inflammatory drugs are the preferred treatment.

Steroids also play a key role in addressing uveitis, but the team at the practice of Raphael E. Rosenbaum, MD, does not recommend long-term use of this therapy. Instead, they turn to steroid-sparing agents, such as:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Immunosuppressive therapy
• Biologic agents

Rest assured, the team works with you until an appropriate solution is found. 

For expert uveitis care, call Raphael E. Rosenbaum, MD, or request an appointment using the online scheduling feature.