Description

Iritis (i-RYE-tis) is swelling and irritation (inflammation) in the colored ring around the pupil of the eye (iris). Another name for the iritis is an anterior uveitis.

The uvea is the middle layer of the eye that lies between the retina and the white of the eye. The iris is located in the front part (anterior) of the uvea.

Iritis is the most common type of uveitis. Uveitis is the inflammation of part or all of the uvea. The cause is often unknown. It may be the result of an underlying disease or genetic factor.

If not treated, iritis could lead to glaucoma and loss of vision. See your doctor as soon as possible if you have symptoms of iritis.

Symptoms

Iritis can occur in one or both eyes. It usually develops suddenly, and can last up to three months.

The signs and symptoms of iritis include:

  • Redness of the eyes
  • Discomfort or pain in the affected eye
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Decreased vision

Iritis that develops suddenly, over hours or days, is known as iritis acute. The symptoms that develop gradually or last more than three months indicate iritis, chronic.

When to see a doctor

See an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) as soon as possible if you have symptoms of iritis. Prompt treatment helps to prevent serious complications. If you have eye pain and vision problems with other signs and symptoms, you may need urgent medical attention.

Causes

Often, the cause of the iritis can not be determined. In some cases, iritis may be linked to eye trauma, genetic factors or certain diseases. Causes of iritis include:

  • Injury to the eye. Blunt force Trauma, penetrating injury or a burn from a chemical or a fire can cause iritis acute.
  • Infections.Viral infections of the face, such as cold sores and shingles caused by herpes viruses, can cause iritis. Infectious diseases of other viruses and bacteria can also be linked to uveitis. For example, you can include toxoplasmosis, an infection most often caused by a parasite in the raw food; histoplasmosis, a lung infection that occurs by inhaling the spores of the fungi; tuberculosis, which occurs when the bacteria enters the lungs; and syphilis, which is caused by the spread of bacteria through sexual contact.
  • The genetic predisposition. People who develop certain autoimmune diseases due to a genetic alteration that affects their immune systems may also develop iritis acute. The diseases include a type of arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriatic arthritis.
  • Behcet's disease. A rare cause of iritis acute in Western countries, this condition is also characterized by problems in the joints, sores in the mouth and genital ulcers.
  • Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Chronic iritis may develop in children with this condition.
  • Sarcoidosis. This autoimmune disease involves the growth of collections of inflammatory cells into the areas of your body, including the eyes.
  • Certain medications. Some medications, such as antibiotics, rifabutin (Mycobutin) and the antiviral drug cidofovir, which are used to treat HIV infections can be a rare cause of the iritis. Rarely, the bisphosphonates used to treat osteoporosis, may cause uveitis. The suspension of these drugs usually stops the iritis symptoms.

Infections. Viral infections of the face, such as cold sores and shingles caused by herpes viruses, can cause iritis.

Infectious diseases of other viruses and bacteria can also be linked to uveitis. For example, you can include toxoplasmosis, an infection most often caused by a parasite in the raw food; histoplasmosis, a lung infection that occurs by inhaling the spores of the fungi; tuberculosis, which occurs when the bacteria enters the lungs; and syphilis, which is caused by the spread of bacteria through sexual contact.

Risk factors

Your risk of developing iritis increases if you:

  • Have a genetic alteration. People with a specific change in a gene essential to the health of the function of the immune system are more likely to develop iritis. This change is labeled HLA-B27.
  • Develop a sexually transmitted infection. Certain infections, such as syphilis or HIV/AIDS, are associated with a significant risk of iritis.
  • Have a weakened immune system or an autoimmune disorder. This includes conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis and reactive arthritis.
  • The smoke of the tobacco. Studies have shown that smoking contributes to your risk.

Complications

If not treated properly, iritis could lead to:

  • The falls. Development of an opacity of the eye lens (cataract) is a possible complication, especially if you have had a long period of inflammation.
  • A student spot. The scar tissue can cause the iris to stick to the underlying lens or the cornea, making the pupil an irregular shape and the iris slow in their reaction to light.
  • Glaucoma. Recurrent iritis may result in glaucoma, a serious eye disease characterized by increased pressure within the eye and possible loss of vision.
  • Calcium deposits in the cornea. This causes the degeneration of the cornea and can decrease the vision.
  • Swelling within the retina. The swelling and fluid-filled cysts that develop in the retina at the back of the eye, blurred or reduced central vision.

Diagnosis

Your eye doctor will perform a complete eye exam, including:

  • External examination. Your doctor may use a flashlight to look at their students, to observe the pattern of redness in one or both eyes, and verify if there are signs of shock.
  • The Visual acuity. Your doctor tests the sharpness of your vision is by using an eye chart and other standard tests.
  • Slit-lamp examination. Through a microscope with a light in it, the doctor sees the inside of your eye for signs of iritis. Dilation of the pupils with eye drops lets your doctor see the inside of your eye better.

If your eye doctor suspects that a disease or condition is the cause of iritis, he or she can work with your primary care physician to detect the underlying cause. In this case, other tests may include blood tests or X-rays to identify or rule out specific causes.

Treatment

Iritis treatment is designed to preserve vision and reduce pain and inflammation. For iritis associated with an underlying disease, the treatment of this condition is also necessary.

Most often, the treatment of iritis involves:

  • Steroid eye drops. Glucocorticoid medicines, given as eye drops, to reduce the inflammation.
  • Dilating eye drops. Eye drops used to dilate the pupil can reduce the pain of the iritis. Dilating eye drops also protect you from developing complications that interfere with a student of the function.

If the symptoms do not go away, or seems to get worse, your doctor may prescribe oral medications include steroids or other anti-inflammatory agents, depending on their general condition.

Preparing for your appointment

Make an appointment with a doctor that specializes in eye care — optometrist or ophthalmologist — that you can evaluate the iritis and perform a complete examination of the eyes.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Make a list of:

  • Your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to your vision problem and when they began
  • All medications, vitamins or supplements you are taking, including dose
  • Key personal information, including recent trauma or injury and your medical history in the family, including whether any member of the family has an autoimmune disorder
  • Questions to ask your eye doctor

Have a family member or friend to your appointment, if possible, to help you remember the information they give you. Also, with the pupils dilated by the examination of the eyes will affect your vision for a while after that, so that it can be helpful to have someone drive you home.

For iritis, some questions to ask your doctor include:

  • You can iritis permanently affect vision?
  • I need to go back for follow-up examinations? When?
  • What should I do if my symptoms do not go away or seems to get worse?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • Do you have brochures or other printed material I can have? What sites do you recommend?

What to expect from your eye doctor

Your doctor may ask you several questions, such as:

  • Do you have symptoms in one or both eyes?
  • Do you feel pain in their eyes after touching the eyelid?
  • Do you have headaches?
  • Does the bright light worsen your pain in the eye?
  • Is your vision blurry?
  • Do you have symptoms of arthritis, such as pain in the joints?
  • Do you have sores in the mouth or on the genitals?
  • Have you been diagnosed with iritis before?
  • Have you been diagnosed with other conditions of the eyes?
  • How do you feel in general?
Symptoms and treatment of Iritis