Q. What is Uvea?

There are three coats of the eyeball. The middle layer is called the uvea. It has three parts, anterior – iris, middle – ciliary body and posterior – choroid. It has a good blood supply and a strong immune system and it helps the internal structures of the eye to meet with their blood requirements and to fight the infective agents in the posterior part of the eye. It is prone to immune reactions.

Q. What Is Uveitis?

Inflammation of the uvea is uveitis. It is just like an allergic reaction which is due to various antigen antibody reactions that occur in this layer when any foreign particle enters uvea via blood. The various causes of uveitis are autoimmune causes like rheumatoid arthritis or infections which may be viral, bacterial, fungal or tuberculosis.

Q. Is Uveitis Curable?

If the cause of uveitis is an infection, it can be completely or permanently cured with the appropriate treatment. If it is due to autoimmune causes, it can be controlled with medications. However, like all autoimmune conditions, uveitis can also be recurrent or chronic. In such conditions, the uveitis treatment may be prolonged. At times after the treatment of the episode is over it can leave a scar tissue at the retina or partial loss of function of optic nerve thus compromising the vision.

Q. What Are the investigations for Uveitis?

Ocular investigations include fundus fluorescein angiography, autofluorescence, optical coherence tomography, B scan ultrasound and UBM. Systemic investigations include blood tests and radiological imaging

Q. Is Steroid the only treatment for Uveitis?

Infectious uveitis is treated with appropriate antibiotics, antifungals or antivirals. Noninfectious uveitis is treated with steroids. If prolonged treatment is required or if the patient cannot tolerate steroids, steroid-sparing agents can be used. Patients will be regularly monitored for the adverse effects of the medicines and the treatment will be altered if any adverse effects develop.

Regular follow-up and strict allegiance to treatment is a must for all patients with uveitis. Self medication can lead to complications. Hence avoid self medication and irregular treatment.