Uveitis (inflammation of the choroid): symptoms and treatment
Uveitis often begins with redness, pain, or photophobia, but the problem runs deeper than the eye's appearance suggests. Inflammation of the choroid can affect the retina, vitreous body, and vision.
At our clinic, we diagnose uveitis, identify the cause of the inflammation, and tailor treatment to reduce the risk of complications and recurrence.
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Uveitis Symptoms: What to Look Out For
Symptoms of uveitis depend on the part of the eye where the inflammation is most active. Anterior forms often cause pain and photophobia, while posterior forms often cause fog, floaters, and decreased vision.
A consultation is recommended if you experience the following complaints:
- Eye redness, pain, and a feeling of pressure
- Photophobia and lacrimation
- Decreased vision, fog, or floaters
- Eyelid spasm, discomfort in bright light
- Recurrence of similar episodes in one or both eyes
Even a single pronounced symptom is best assessed in person, especially if it appears quickly or affects vision and overall well-being.
Redness, pain, and photophobia
With anterior lesions, discomfort usually appears quickly: the eye becomes red, painful, and has decreased tolerance for bright light. Sometimes a person has difficulty opening their eyelids, and the usual strain causes tearing.
Vision loss, fog, and spots before the eyes
If the process affects the vitreous body, retina, or choroid, complaints are more often related to image quality: a veil, floating spots, and distorted contours appear. These signs require a fundus examination.
When to see an ophthalmologist urgently
An urgent consultation is necessary if complaints worsen, severe pain occurs, vision deteriorates, or the general condition changes. In such a situation, it is safer to undergo an immediate in-person examination than to wait for spontaneous improvement.
How We Diagnose Uveitis
Diagnosing uveitis is not only necessary to confirm inflammation. It helps understand the depth of the process, the activity of the lesion, and the probable cause.
Typically, the examination procedure follows these steps:
- We check visual acuity and intraocular pressure
- We examine the anterior segment of the eye with a slit lamp
- We evaluate the fundus after dilating the pupil
- If necessary, we prescribe OCT, ultrasound, or angiography.
- We involve laboratory tests and related specialists.
After the diagnosis, the doctor explains the results and agrees on further actions.
For clarity, let's compare key benchmarks that help understand the logic of the survey.
| Symptom | Uveitis | Conjunctivitis | Keratitis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pain | Often severe | Usually milder | Often severe |
| Photophobia | Characteristic | Less common | Characteristic |
| Vision loss | possible | rare | possible |
| Discharge | not always | often | sometimes |
| Urgency of treatment | high | depends on symptoms | high |
The table helps you navigate, but the choice of tactics always remains with the doctor after in-person examination.
Ophthalmologist examination and vision test
During the appointment, the doctor asks when the complaints began and whether there have been any previous injuries, surgeries, infections, or similar episodes. Then, the doctor checks visual function and examines the anterior segment of the eye under magnification.
Instrumental Diagnostic Methods
OCT, ultrasound, fundus examination, and angiography help determine the depth of the lesion, swelling, opacities, and vascular changes. The selection of tests is based on the initial examination.
Tests and identification of the cause of inflammation
If the examination reveals that the problem may be related to more than just the eye, the doctor recommends tests and consultations with related specialists. This helps differentiate between infectious, autoimmune, and traumatic causes.
General information
How is uveitis treated?
Uveitis treatment is always determined after an in-person evaluation. The treatment plan depends on the cause, the part of the eye, the activity of the inflammation, and any associated medical conditions.
The care plan may include various elements:
- Anti-inflammatory medications as prescribed by an ophthalmologist
- Medications for adhesion prevention and pain control, if indicated
- Treatment of any identified infection or systemic disease
- Dynamic monitoring with adjustments to therapy
- Monitoring for complications, including increased intraocular pressure
The extent of treatment, recovery time, and prognosis depend on the diagnosis, stage of the inflammation, and individual patient characteristics.
Topical therapy: drops and other medications
Drops, ointments, or injections are used only after an examination: some medications reduce the inflammatory response, while others help prevent adhesions and pain. Do not change the dosage on your own.
Treatment of the underlying cause
Once the source is identified, therapy is aimed not only at relieving the inflammatory response but also at the underlying condition: infection, systemic disease, or the consequences of injury. This approach reduces the likelihood of recurrence.
Monitoring the outcome and preventing relapse
During follow-up visits, complaints, visual acuity, and the condition of the anterior segment and fundus are assessed. If the reaction subsides slowly or side effects appear, the regimen is changed.
To prevent worsening the condition before the visit, it is important to avoid risky actions:
- Do not start hormonal, antibacterial, or vasoconstrictor drops without a doctor’s advice.
- Do not wear contact lenses during the acute period before the examination.
- Do not warm the eye or try to “wait out” the pain.
- Contact immediately if vision decreases, severe photophobia, or sudden redness occurs.
Restrictions do not replace treatment, but help prevent harm before the consultation.
To reduce the risk of recurrent episodes, the doctor may recommend:
- See an ophthalmologist after the inflammation.
- Monitor concomitant infections and systemic diseases.
- Contact at the first sign of recurring symptoms
- Follow the recommendations for drops and follow-up appointments
The prevention plan depends on the cause of the disease and associated factors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to frequently asked questions from patients. They are helpful for orientation, but do not replace an in-person examination and diagnosis.
What is uveitis in simple terms?
How does uveitis differ from conjunctivitis?
Can uveitis be cured without sequelae?
Why might uveitis recur?
References
- Clinical Guidelines of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation — https://cr.minzdrav.gov.ru/
- CyberLeninka — https://cyberleninka.ru/search?q=увеит
- eLIBRARY — https://elibrary.ru/
- Russian Medical Journal (RMJ) — https://www.rmj.ru/
- Attending physician - https://www.lvrach.ru/
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What is uveitis and why does it occur?
Uveitis is an inflammation of the choroid, or uveal tract, of the eye. The iris, ciliary body, choroid, and sometimes multiple parts of the eye may be involved. Depending on the location, uveitis is classified as anterior uveitis, intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, and panuveitis. When the iris and ciliary body are inflamed, the doctor may use the term iridocyclitis.
Which structures of the eye become inflamed
The choroid nourishes the internal structures of the eye and is involved in the normal functioning of the visual system. Therefore, uveitis cannot be assessed solely by the degree of redness: deep inflammation sometimes produces moderate external signs but affects vision.
Main Causes of Uveitis
Causes can be local and systemic. The doctor clarifies past infections, injuries, surgeries, autoimmune diseases, and recurrent episodes of inflammation.
Most often, the doctor pays attention to several groups of causes:
The exact source of inflammation or tissue changes is determined after an examination and, if necessary, additional testing.
Types of uveitis: anterior, intermediate, posterior, panuveitis
Anterior uveitis is most often associated with the iris and ciliary body, intermediate uveitis with the vitreous body, and posterior uveitis with the choroid and retina. With panuveitis, multiple areas are involved, so the examination is usually more extensive.