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Iritis Treatment

According to the Mayo Clinic, iritis, also called uveitis, causes inflammation of the layer of the eye that affects your iris --- the colored tissue around your eye's pupil. Muscles in the iris control how the pupil adjusts to light. Iritis can cause the pupil to become abnormally shaped, which can expose you to other eye diseases.

  1. Causes

    • Determining the cause of iritis is the first step in treatment. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause. Eye injury, herpes infections and genetic predisposition are some of the more common causes of iritis. You are more susceptible to developing iritis if you have a sexually transmitted disease, carry certain genotypes, have complications with your immune system or live in Ohio or Mississippi river valleys where the lung disease histoplasmosis is more prevalent. After identifying the possible causes, doctors prescribe treatment to reduce the risk of vision loss and alleviate pain.

    Symptoms

    • Eye redness, eye discomfort, blurred vision and light sensitivity are all common signs of iritis. Your pupil will also appear smaller. Acute iritis typically lasts a few days, while chronic iritis may last for weeks or months. According to MedicineNet, each new iritis flare-up increases the risk of glaucoma, cataracts, scarring and other eye disorders.

    Eye Drops

    • Steroid eye drops are used to stabilize your eye's cell membranes and reduce the spread of white blood cells and other substances. This decreases inflammation caused by iritis. Dilating eye drops are used to reduce eye discomfort caused by iritis. These types of eye drops also minimize your risk of developing scars beneath your iris, which could lead to various other eye problems including glaucoma.

    Oral Medications

    • If symptoms do not subside, your doctor may prescribe oral medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs.Taking oral medications can cause complications with other parts of your body. Talking to your doctor will help you determine the best form of treatment.

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