Most likely, many of us have lived an episode of an eye reddened above normal after an extreme fatigue day. The first thing that ophthalmologists move is that, before a red eye that It is not resolved spontaneouslyit is important that a professional evaluates the situation to avoid irreversible complications that can lead, in a short time, to the total loss of vision.
In the context of this type of ocular disorder is the uveitis, “a form of ocular inflammation that affects the middle layer of the ocular wall tissue, called Uvea,” as explained since May Clinic. Attentive, then, to alarm signs, since they usually appear in an abrupt way in the form of redness, pain and blurred vision, and get worse very quickly.
What is the uvea of the eye and which its possible alterations
Before specifying the causes and development of uveitis it is importantThe uvea consists of eye structures under the white part of the eye (sclerotic). It has three parts: the iris, which is the part with the color of the eye; the ciliary body, which is the ocular structure that secretes the transparent liquid inside the front of the eye; and the choroid, which is the layer of blood vessels between the sclera and the retina. “
The type of uveitis will depend on the affected part. The so -called ‘previous’, The most common, affects the inside of the front of the eye (between the cornea and the iris) and the ciliary body. Intermediate uveitis affects the retina and blood vessels behind the lens (flat part), as well as the center of the center of the eye (vitreous). The ‘posterior’ affects a layer that is inside the back of the eye (retina or choroid); and the last, ‘Panuveitis’, is produced by inflammation of all the layers of the uvea.
Uveitis diagnosis and what are its causes
The causes of this ophthalmological problem are not clear, and at the same time they can derive from other diseases related to immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis. There is also a certain association between this dangerous redness of the eye and Behcet’s disease, diverse infections (herpes zoster, syphilis, toxoplasmosis), Sarcoidosis or psoriasis, among others.
To diagnose it, the ophthalmologist will carry out an exhaustive exploration of the vision, taking into account the history. Among the evidence that the vision professional will be helped will be the tonometry (measures the pressure inside the eye with previous anesthetic drops) and ophthalmoscopy, exploration of the background that dilates the pupil to examine the affected area in detail.
Another effective test is the ‘slit lamp’, a microscope that expands and illuminates the front of the eye, with the aim of identifying Microscopic inflammatory cells. Sometimes, it is difficult to find a specific cause for uveitis, which does not mean that it cannot be treated. Although in some cases it does not cure at all, the treatment to control inflammation is necessary.
This manifests uveitis
The symptoms that characterize most uveitis are a redness of the eyes, which is accompanied by pain and a extreme light sensitivity. The famous ‘flying flies’ of which we have heard, which are dark points that float in the field of vision, also make an appearance in the uveitis, as well as a blurred vision that does not disappear.
It is important to keep in mind that the mentioned symptoms may appear In one eye or bothand that there may even be cases in which no symptoms are shown and the disease is discovered in a routine ophthalmological review.
Treatments available for this severe ocular condition
Ophthalmologists insist on the need for early treatment, which to stop a potential advancement of vision loss. In addition to helping us with sunglasses, there are some steroid drops capable of reducing inflammation And the pain. Other ways of addressing uveitis are through oral steroids that inhibit the immune system.
In the event that the disease is caused by a generalized infection, the doctor is most likely antibiotics and anti -inflammatories such as corticosteroids. For autoimmune causes, treatment passes through immunosuppressants. As regards potential complications, there are glaucoma, or cataracts as the most frequent.
References
Anabel González-Peñaa, Eddy Mesa-Hernándezb, Arianna Hernández-Pérezc, Oslay Mijail Tirado-Martínezd, Lorelei Ortega-Díaze. ‘Clinical and Epidemiological Behavior of Previous Uveitis’. Ophthalmology Magazine. Elsevier. Consulted online https://www.elsevier.es/es-revista-revista-mexicana on March 4, 2025.
Santiago Muñoz-Fernández, Emilio Martín-Mola. ‘Uveitis’. Best Practice ¬ Research Clinical Rheumatology. Elsevier. Consulted online https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/s1521694206000386 on March 4, 2025.
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