Uveitis and Glaucoma

Uveitis (also known as iritis) is an inflammatory condition that results in floating debris in the interior of the eye. This material can clog the drainage system for the fluid inside the eye and cause an increase in eye pressure. The increased eye pressure can damage the nerve that carries visual information to the brain, resulting in the eye disease known as glaucoma.

Uveitis

• Uveitis is a condition wherein the fluid inside of the eye, which is called the aqueous humor, becomes filled with cells and protein as a result of an inflammatory response. This inflammatory response can be due to a number of systemic conditions such as tuberculosis, Crohn's disease, sarcoidosis, syphilis or many others. It can also have no specific cause.

Symptoms of Uveitis

• Uveitis usually presents with symptoms of light sensitivity, a dull eye pain and a red eye. The eye may be specifically redder around the center colored portion. The inflammatory debris inside the eye is usually too small to be seen without magnification. There is usually no discharge from the eye except for excessive tearing from light sensitivity.

Treatment of Uveitis

• The standard treatment for uveitis is a topical steroid drop, such as prednisolone acetate, to be used as often as every one to two hours. The steroid travels through the front of the eye to the anterior chamber, where it works directly on calming the inflammation. The steroid drop can be supplemented with additional eye drops that keep the eye dilated and help control pain. After the inflammation has subsided for the most part, the dosage of the steroid drop is tapered off under the direction of the ophthalmologist.

Complications of Uveitis on Eye Pressure

• The eye continuously produces and drains aqueous humor in order to provide nutrients to the structures in its interior. This fluid is drained through a structure known as the trabecular meshwork. The trabecular meshwork is very fine and can clog relatively easily. A major complication from uveitis, especially untreated uveitis, is that the inflammatory material can get stuck in the trabecular meshwork. A clog of this drainage system of the eye can result in a spike in eye pressure.

Uveitic Glaucoma

• When an eye pressure spike results from uveitic material clogging the drainage system, it can cause damage to the delicate nerve that carries visual information from the back of the eye to the brain. This damage is irreversible and results in loss of vision. Usually vision is lost peripherally at first, progressing toward the central vision, and is known as uveitic glaucoma. Therefore it is very important to treat uveitis quickly and complete the entire course of steroid drops as prescribed in order to eliminate the inflammation.

See Your Eye Doctor

• If you have a red eye, are painfully sensitive to light or have other symptoms that you believe may be from uveitis, see your eye doctor immediately. Your eye doctor will prescribe a course of steroid medications in order to combat the uveitis. It is imperative that you follow your doctor's orders and do not discontinue the steroid drops before it is recommended. Early discontinuation of the drops can result in a reoccurrence of uveitis.