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Ocular Inflammation and Immunology

Ocular Inflammation and Immunology - What it is

Uveitis, or ocular inflammation, is inflammation of the uvea, which is the middle layer of the eye. The eye is shaped like a tennis ball, with three different layers of tissue surrounding a central gel-filled cavity.

The innermost layer is the retina, which senses light and helps to send images to the brain. The middle layer between the sclera and retina is called the uvea. The outermost layer is the sclera, which is the external white wall of the eye.

ocular inflammation conditions & treatments

What is the importance of the uvea?
The uvea contains many blood vessels – veins and arteries that carry blood to the eye. Since it nourishes many important parts of the eye (such as the retina), inflammation of the uvea can damage your sight.

Are there different types of ocular inflammation?

A simple way for classifying types of ocular inflammation is according to the affected part of the eye:

  • Episcleritis /Scleritis
  • Anterior uveitis (also known as iritis or iridocyclitis)
  • Intermediate uveitis (including pars planitis)
  • Posterior uveitis (including retinitis, choroiditis, chorioretinitis and neuroretinitis)
  • Panuveitis (when the whole eye is inflamed from anterior to posterior aspect)

Ocular Inflammation and Immunology - Symptoms

Ocular Inflammation and Immunology - How to prevent?

Ocular Inflammation and Immunology - Causes and Risk Factors

What causes ocular inflammation?
Ocular inflammation may be the result of a wide variety of causes, including infection and inflammatory disorders. Some conditions may affect other parts of the body. In many cases however, despite thorough investigations, the cause remains unknown.

Condition Symptoms Possible diagnosis
Episcleritis
Scleritis
       
Redness, pain, watering

Idiopathic episcleritis
Anterior scleritis (diffuse or nodular, with or without necrosis)
Posterior scleritis

Anterior uveitis
Iritis
Iridocyclitis
Redness,pain, photophobia, watering,
elevated eye pressure, vision may or may not be affected
Idiopathic anterior uveitis
HLA-B27 related uveitis
Herpetic keratouveitis
Posner Schlossman syndrome
Fuchs Heterochromic iridocyclitis
Cytomegalovirus anterior uveitis
Intermediate uveitis
Pars Planitis
Floaters, blurred visionIdiopathic intermediate uveitis
Underlying systemic disease
(Multiple sclerosis, sarcoidosis, syphilis,
Tuberculosis, Lyme disease)
Posterior uveitis
Retinitis
Choroiditis
Chorioretinitis
Neuroretinitis
Blurred visionInfective: Toxoplasmosis
Viral retinitis (including acute retinal necrosis): Varicella zoster virus, herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus
Dengue-associated disease
Retinal VasculitisBlurred vision, floatersEales Disease
Behcets disease
Sarcoidosis
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Polyarteritis nodosa
Wegeners granulomatosis
Infective: Tuberculosis, syphilis, viral, toxoplasmosis
Infective panuveitis
(Endophthalmitis)
All of aboveExogenous from open wound (e.g. trauma, post-op)
Endogenous from internal source
through the blood stream (e.g. hepatobiliary disease, urinary tract infection)
Non-infective panuveitis

All of aboveBehcets Disease
Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease
Sympathetic Ophthalmia
Sarcoidosis
Masquerade syndromes (tumour related)


Ocular Inflammation and Immunology - Diagnosis

A careful eye examination by an ophthalmologist is extremely important when symptoms occur. Inflammation inside the eye can permanently affect sight or even lead to blindness, if it is not treated.

Your ophthalmologist will examine the inside of your eye. He or she may order blood tests, skin tests or x-rays to help make the diagnosis. Since uveitis can be associated with disease in the rest of the body, your ophthalmologist will want to know about your overall health. He or she may want to consult with your primary care physician or other medical specialists.

Ocular Inflammation and Immunology - Treatments

Ocular inflammation is a serious eye condition that may scar the eye. You need to have it treated as soon as possible. Eye drops, especially steroids and pupil dilators, can reduce inflammation and pain. For more severe inflammation, oral medication or injections may be necessary.

Uveitis may have these complications:

  • Glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye)
  • Cataract (clouding of the eye's natural lens)
  • Neovascularisation (growth of new, abnormal blood vessels)
    These complications may develop in chronic severe inflammation. Specialist care is essential to ensure your condition is appropriately managed.

Ocular Inflammation and Immunology - Preparing for surgery

Ocular Inflammation and Immunology - Post-surgery care

Ocular Inflammation and Immunology - Other Information

The information provided is not intended as medical advice. Terms of use. Information provided by SingHealth

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