Uveitis refers to a group of inflammatory diseases that affect the uvea or the middle part of your eyes. Eyes on Norbeck, your local eye care center for your computer vision exam needs, provides an overview of its symptoms, causes and complications.
Uveitis Symptoms
The uvea lies beneath the sclera or the white part of your eyes. It is composed of the iris, ciliary body, and choroid—structures that control many eye functions, including adjusting to different distances of objects or levels of light. As a whole, the uvea also supplies nutrients to the outer retina, sclera and lens, which are parts of the eye that don’t have an inherent blood supply.
Symptoms of uveitis include eye pain and redness, light sensitivity, blurred vision, floating spots in your field of vision or “floaters,” and diminished visual capabilities. These may occur suddenly and get worse right away, although some cases involve symptoms developing gradually. Visiting an optometrist for an eye exam is imperative to detect these signs.
Uveitis Causes
About half of all cases of uveitis don’t have a known cause. In some patients, however, the condition can be caused by an autoimmune or inflammatory disorder affecting other parts of the body, an infection, side effect of a medication, or an eye injury or surgery. It may also be due to lymphoma or any cancer that affects the eyes, though this happens very rarely.
Uveitis Complications
Immediate treatment is necessary to manage symptoms of uveitis and avoid complications. Otherwise, this can lead to severe eye and vision-related problems, including blindness. Other complications include retinal swelling, scarring, or detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and optic nerve damage.
If you need to undergo an eye exam or secure a prescription for new eyeglasses or contact lenses, contact Eyes on Norbeck today to schedule an appointment. Call (240) 221-1177 today or fill out our contact form. Rest assured that we closely follow all safety protocols to ensure the safety of our patients and staff. We serve residents in Rockville, MD, and the surrounding communities.
