Symptoms of Uveitis

Symptoms of Uveitis. Anterior Uveitis. Large brownish cellular deposition in the interior part of the cornea due to severe anterior uveitis © 2019 American Academy of Ophthalmology

Symptoms of Uveitis

 

 

 

Symptoms of Uveitis depend mainly on the location of uveitis. According to location, uveitis is divided into anterior, intermediate,posterior and panuveitis.

 

Anterior Uveitis

 

Anterior uveitis is inflammation of the intraocular structures that lie anterior or front the intraocular lens.
 

  • Painful Eye .This can range from mild to severe pain. It is also associated with jaw, face and headache on the same side as the eye with uveitis.

  • Congested Red eyes.

  • Blurred or cloudy vision due to excessive accumulation of inflammatory cells in the aqueous humor and in the chronic form due to formation of cataract.

  • Small or Miosed pupil.

  • Increase sensitivity to light or photophobia.

  • Formation of adhesions between the iris and the natural lens. These adhesions are called posterior synechia while anterior synechia is the formation of adhesions between the peripheral part of the iris and cornea.

  • In severe cases, inflammatory cells can accumulate in the lower part of the anterior chamber and form Hypopyon. It will appear as white area in the lower part of anterior chamber.

  • In chronic anterior uveitis, change in the color of iris (Heterochromia) and formation of cataract can occur.

  • In chronic Form, increase in intraocular pressure can occur due to damage to the trabecular meshwork cells.

 

 

Intermediate Uveitis

 

Inflammation of the vitreous body and the peripheral part of the retina and pars plana. Pars plana is the most posterior part of the Ciliary body.

The most common signs and symptoms of intermediate uveitis are:

  • Eye Floaters. Patient sees small black dots that move in his visual field.

  • Blurred vision which occurs due to accumulation of inflammatory cells in the vitreous body and also due to formation of macular edema which is the most common cause of severe visual loss in patients with intermediate uveitis.

  • The anterior chamber is quiet with no signs of inflammatory cells.

  • The eye is white and no signs of congestion or redness.

  • No or mild ocular pain.

  • Intraocular pressure is usually normal.

  • Formation of cataract can occur in chronic form.

  • Inflammation of blood vessels in the peripheral part of the retina and it is called periphlebitis. Chronic form can cause the formation of abnormal weak blood vessels which is called neovascularization. These blood vessels can leak fluid easily and form exudates and can leak blood into the vitreous causing vitreous hemorrhage.

 

 

Posterior Uveitis

 

Inflammation of the posterior pole of the eye which includes retina, retinal pigment epithelial and/or choroid.

Signs and symptoms of Posterior Uveitis are:

  • Blurred vision due to involvement of the retina and macula.

  • Eye Floaters can occur if the vitreous body is involved.

  • Seeing flashes of lights.

  • There is no inflammatory cells in the anterior chamber so the eye is white.

  • Minimal to no ocular pain.

  • Macular edema.

  • White areas in the retina which represent retinitis and white area under the retina which represent choroiditis.

  • Vasculitis which is inflammation of the blood vessels. Vasculitis can cause leakage of fluid.


Panuveitis

Panuveitis is inflammation of the whole parts of the eye and its signs and symptoms are the same as signs and symptoms of anterior, intermediate and posterior uveitis.

 

 

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