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Uveitis

The choroid is a vascular, fibrous layer that protects the eye and is extremely important for nutrition and gas exchange. It consists of three parts: The iris, the ciliary body and the choroid. When any part of the uveal lining becomes inflamed, the condition is called uveitis.

There are three types of uveitis that affect three different parts of the uveitis.

Types of Uveitis

Anterior uveitis

ofthalmologiki monada ioannina laserlens ragoeiditida 2 This is the most common form of uveitis (40-70% of cases). It affects the iris and its surrounding tissue, known as the ciliary body. Anterior uveitis is sometimes called iritis because the iris, which is part of the uveal lining, is usually affected in this type of disease.

Interstitial Uveitis

ofthalmologiki monada ioannina laserlens ragoeiditida 3 This is another type of uveitis that affects the area just behind the ciliary body (pars plana) as well as the most prominent edge of the retina. It is the rarest type of uveitis.

Posterior Vaginitis

ofthalmologiki monada ioannina laserlens ragoeiditida 4 A rare form of the disease that affects the back of the eye, the choroid and may affect the retina and/or the optic nerve. This form is the most difficult to treat and is often associated with progressive vision loss.

Cause

In most cases there is no obvious underlying cause of uveitis. It is a condition associated with a wide range of diseases and syndromes and may also be caused as a result of our body’s natural response to infections.

Uveitis has many causes:

  • Virus (e.g. herpes, shingles, chicken pox, etc.)
  • Fungus (eg histoplasmosis)
  • Parasite (eg toxoplasmosis)
  • Systemic disease (e.g. arthritis, collagen diseases, sarcoid, etc.)
  • Wound

Symptoms

Uveitis can appear suddenly, with eye irritation (redness) and pain, or gradually with mild pain or redness combined with gradual blurring of vision. Symptoms of uveitis may include:

  • Photosensitivity
  • Blurred vision
  • Pain in the eye
  • Redness
  • Black spots
  • Basic tests for all uveitis

General blood, TKE, CRP, serum electrophoresis, differential-BB, Liver enzymes and renal function check, ACE Chest x-ray HLA-B 27, B-17 in anterior uveitis Toxoplasmosis, Lyme disease, syphilis (Treponemapallidum).