The vascular membrane of the eye in medicine is called the uveal tract. It includes the iris, the ciliary (ciliary) body and the choroid located behind it.
Inflammation of the uveal tract can manifest itself in the form of diseases that are different in localization and features. But all these pathological conditions have the general name "uveitis."
Symptoms and treatments for inflammation will be discussed in this article.
Symptoms of Uveitis
In childhood, uveitis most often does not have pronounced symptoms, children do not complain of pain or discomfort, while the inflammatory process in them sometimes affects all parts of the choroid. In adults, the picture is usually more vivid. True, not the least role here is played by exactly where the focus of inflammation is located.
The disease begins unexpectedly, without any preliminary signs. A breaking pain appears in the eye and at the same time other symptoms:
- the eyeball turns red;
- vision deteriorates ;
- spots appear, “floating” in front of the eyes;
- sensitivity to light increases;
- there is soreness around the eyes;
- eyelids become swollen (especially the upper ones);
- lacrimation.
The cardinal sign of the emerging pathology, as a rule, is the narrowing of the pupil, the fading of the iris pattern and its color change (the blue iris can become dirty green, and brown eyes become rusty).
Symptoms in the form of characteristic headaches are frequent and detecting the onset of uveitis. Arising in the eyeball, they quickly spread to half the head, and sometimes give to the ear or even teeth. Typically, this pain is described as acute, boring, or shooting.
What is dangerous uveitis
Uveitis, the symptoms of which at first may not cause special alertness, is considered to be a dangerous pathology in medicine. It causes multiple complications that degrade the quality of vision, up to its complete loss.
Uveitis provokes an increase in intraocular pressure, which, by the way, can give impetus to the development of glaucoma. Frequent complications of uveitis are retinal infarcts and its detachment, as well as cataracts, optic nerve edema , vasculitis with occlusion (sudden obstruction) of the vessels or pupil fusion.
How uveitis is distinguished
Depending on the duration of the course of the disease, acute and chronic uveitis are distinguished (if the disease lasts more than six weeks). By the way, about half of those who were diagnosed with this diagnosis have a risk of a relapse. Therefore, patients who have suffered an acute form of the disease must be observed by an ophthalmologist.
Depending on where exactly in the organs of vision the focus of inflammation is located, ophthalmologists diagnose its various types. So, for example, if the iris is affected , then iritis on the face, if the ciliary body, then they talk about cyclitis. Peripheral uveitis is inflammation of the flat part of the ciliary body, and damage to the choroid is called "horodicitis."
But in medical practice, there are frequent cases of pathologies of several tissues at once, for example, the ciliary body and iris (then we are talking about iridocyclitis) or the retina and choroid (chorioretinitis). Complete inflammation of the eye is diagnosed as panuveitis.
What is front and rear uveitis, how do they manifest
By anatomical principle, distinguish between anterior and posterior uveitis.
- The iris and the ciliary body are involved in the anterior (by the way, it is this localization of inflammation that occurs most often).
- And posterior uveitis occurs with the involvement of the retina, choroid, and optic nerve.
Anterior uveitis is usually manifested by photophobia, exacerbated by lacrimation, redness of the eye, sometimes with a purple tint, and decreased vision. If a patient checks it with plus or minus glasses, it will be found that visual acuity does not improve. Light palpation of the eyeball can reveal its soreness.
Diagnosis of posterior uveitis is quite difficult. Most often, a suspicion of the presence of this type of inflammation appears as a result of a violation in the patient's visual functions: a decrease in visual acuity or visual field defects. Ophthalmoscopic and biomicrocycloscopic studies of the fundus help to more accurately diagnose this pathology.
Uveitis: causes of pathology
Inflammation of the choroid can be caused by a large number of different reasons:
- injuries (especially in childhood);
- allergic reactions;
- systemic pathologies: syphilis, herpes virus, tuberculosis, Reiter's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, histoplasmosis, toxoplasmosis, ankylosing spondylitis , etc.
By the way, in the case of toxoplasmosis, cases of transmission of the disease from a pregnant woman to the fetus were noted.
How is uveitis diagnosed ? Disease treatment
With uveitis, complications are especially dangerous. Therefore, in order to prevent them, it is important to remember that with the appearance of even a slight reddening of the eye, which lasts several days, you must always consult an ophthalmologist. It is very important to pay attention to the symptoms indicating uveitis on time!
Treatment of pathology will be more successful with early detection of the inflammatory process and accurate diagnosis of the disease. For this, modern medicine uses biomicroscopic examination, ophthalmoscopy of the fundus, measurement of intraocular pressure, tomography of the eye, etc. And additional studies in the form of blood tests and fluorography will help to clarify the cause of the disease. After all, it often depends on her whether the inflammation will come back again and again.
Depending on the etiology of the eye uveitis, treatment is both symptomatic and, after diagnosis, specific. As a rule, it is carried out using antibiotics, sulfonamides, vasodilators, antihistamines and neurotropic drugs. For local therapy, eye drops and ointments are used. An important role in it is played by immunostimulation. Drops dilating the pupil are also used .
In addition, physioreflexotherapy, laser and, in some cases, surgical treatment are used.
Uveitis is serious!
Uveitis, the symptoms of which were considered in the article, can occur in 10-15% of cases of bacterial or viral diseases. Therefore, for any infectious disease, be sure to check your eyesight and eyeball.
Influenza, chickenpox, herpes, toxoplasmosis and many other ailments can be the impetus for the appearance of uveitis and, as a result, a decrease in vision. Do not risk your health! Contact the ophthalmologists in time, and your eyes will not let you down for a long time!