The Connection Between Inflammation and Eye Diseases with our Plano Optometrist
Eye inflammation is a serious issue, and it can affect people at all stages of life. The causes are diverse, but the potential for permanent damage or vision loss is real, and so it’s important to see your eye doctor if you experience any type of eye disease symptoms. Prompt treatment by an eye care professional can help you find quick relief from your symptoms, and it can also greatly improve your chances for a complete recovery with few or no complications.
Types and Causes of Eye Inflammation
Uveitis is a particular category of eye inflammation that impacts the middle layer of the eye. That includes the iris, the ciliary body, and the choroid. Depending on the location of the inflammation, your doctor may describe your condition as anterior uveitis, intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, or diffuse or pan-uveitis. Any of these types of uveitis can be chronic, and if untreated, they can lead to complications and eye diseases including increased intraocular pressure, cataracts, glaucoma, retinal swelling and retinal detachment.
Causes of uveitis span a wide range, with traumatic injury, exposure to toxic chemicals, viral or bacterial infections, and an underlying inflammatory or autoimmune disease all possibilities. Many other diseases and conditions can increase your risk of developing uveitis, and smoking is a risk factor as well.
Symptoms of Uveitis
The specific symptoms you experience will depend on the type of uveitis you have. For instance, anterior uveitis often causes light sensitivity, eye pain, and redness, and decreased visual acuity. Uveitis that develops in the middle or back of your uvea is often painless, but it may produce floaters and blurred vision. Pan-uveitis symptoms are a combination of all those listed above.
Professional Treatment for Eye Diseases
If you’re experiencing symptoms of uveitis, it’s important to seek treatment from our eye doctor right away. Depending on the underlying cause of your uveitis and the part of your uvea that’s affected, our doctor may prescribe steroids to reduce inflammation in either drop, pill or injected form. Antibiotics, antivirals and immunosuppressant drugs are options as well when appropriate, and pupil-dilating drops are often used to reduce pain in the short-term while the underlying problem is addressed.
Call Us for an Appointment
To learn more about the connection between inflammation and eye diseases, or to schedule an appointment, call our Plano location at (972) 378-4104, or our Celina location at (972) 382-2020.