Uveitis is simply put, inflammation of the uvea, or the middle layers of the eye. The uvea is made up of the iris or the colored part of the eye, the choroid or the thin membrane containing blood vessels and the ciliary body which is the part of the eye which joins these two parts of the eye together. The uvea is critical to the eye as it contains so many veins and arteries which are imperative to your vision.
There are many causes of uveitis which include eye injuries, infections, certain illnesses or inflammatory diseases. Some people who suffer from uveitis will suffer from it chronically which can also lead to complications later on.
There are four types of uveitis which may occur, these types include:
- Anterior uveitis – Affects the front of the eye otherwise known as iritis
- Intermediate uveitis – Affects the ciliary body also known as cyclitis
- Posterior uveitis – Affects the back of your eye and is otherwise known as choroditis
- Panuveitis – Affects all layers of the uvea
The symptoms of uveitis are similar to many other eye illnesses and injuries and include eye redness, pain, sensitivity to light, blurry vision, a whitish area in the iris, dark floating spots in your field of vision and decreased vision. If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, contact your eye doctor right away. You many need to see an ophthalmologist.
While many may have not heard of this eye condition, it affects many Americans each year. Not limited to any one age group, as the condition is often stemming from health issues and many people who suffer from uveitis will be seniors. No matter what your age, uveitis is nothing to leave untreated. If left untreated, uveitis can affect your eye badly including causing damage to the optic nerve, putting pressure on the inside of your eye, clouding the eye or even vision loss. While the cause of your uveitis may be different from others, it is often key to treating uveitis. For example, if caused by a scratch, the treatment may include antibiotics, while if it is caused by a disease or condition, treatment may lay in treating the condition which caused the uveitis. Be sure you tell your eye doctor what illnesses or conditions you have when you visit.
If you are looking for an eye doctor in Grayling MI, Alpine Eye Care is the right choice for you. From senior eye care to cosmetic eye treatments, we offer the services to keep your eyes looking and feeling young. As always, if you have an eye emergency or believe that you may have a condition such as uveitis, don’t wait. Get into an eye doctor right away.
To set up an appointment with Alpine Eye Care, contact us at 1.877.SEE.2020 or fill out our contact form online. If you need to speak to someone right away, call us. Do not request a same day appointment online. Your eyes are a gift, take care of them.