Uveitis: Classification and common symptoms

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Hoang Thanh Nga - Department of Medical Examination and Internal Medicine - Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital.

The eye is an important organ of the human body and is a fragile and vulnerable part. Diseases related to the eyes will sometimes cause dangerous complications, affecting vision, including uveitis.

The uvea is a part of the structure of the eye, including 3 main components: the iris is located in front, the ciliary body is located in the middle and the choroid (choroid) is located in the innermost. Uveitis is an inflammatory disease in one of the three sites above due to a certain cause. Features of uveitis:
Eye disease has a high prevalence in the world. Regardless of age, can occur at any age. Not contagious. Complex causes. Can cause many complications, serious damage to the eyes, can lead to blindness if not treated in time High probability of recurrence.

Uveitis is a disease with a very complex etiology. The following are some common causes of uveitis:
Inflammation: Agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites can attack the uvea causing or secondary infection after surgery. ophthalmology. Toxic: Inflammation caused by toxins from food, chemicals... Autoimmune uveitis. Direct trauma to the eye. Inflammation is secondary to systemic diseases: collagenose, dermatosis, sarcoidose, Behcet's disease, blood disease. Uveitis of unknown cause.

Based on the location of the lesion, uveitis is divided into 3 types as follows:
Anterior uveitis: Inflammatory lesions in the iris and ciliary body. Intermediate uveitis. Posterior uveitis: Injury to the choroid, sometimes including the choroid and retina.

Some signs help to recognize the disease, including:
Blurred vision is the most recognizable sign, the feeling of seeing things through a fog, this sign is common in anterior uveitis. Conjunctival vascular edema. Dull eye pain, possibly accompanied by glaucoma. Sensitive to light, watery eyes. Red eyes, easily misdiagnosed with conjunctivitis. Seeing many shadows (flying phenomenon). However, sometimes the patient does not have any of these symptoms and the diagnosis is only through routine eye exams and detection of abnormalities of uveitis.

Uveitis if not diagnosed and treated promptly will lead to relatively serious complications, affecting vision and possibly blindness.
Glaucoma : During acute inflammation, when the pupil or anterior chamber angle is blocked due to proliferation, increased secretion will cause glaucoma. This is a very common complication of anterior uveitis. In addition, sequelae of uveitis can also cause glaucoma, which is caused by anterior chamber angle adhesion, pupillary occlusion or iris neovascularization (neovascular glaucoma). Cataract: The cloudy lens is common in chronic or recurrent iridocyclitis due to sequelae after the inflammatory process or the consequences of prolonged corticosteroid therapy. Cystic macular edema: Causes vision loss, common in intermediate uveitis or choroiditis. Eyeball atrophy: The ciliary body permanently reduces secretion due to severe inflammation, eventually causing ocular atrophy. Vitreous organization: Vitreous turbidity, organization reduces vision. The phenomenon of vitreous detachment after pulling causes degeneration and detachment of the retina. Retinal detachment: Posterior uveitis can cause retinal detachment due to vitreous fibrosis, traction.

Internal medicine: Anterior uveitis: Using drugs to dilate the pupil, prevent mydriasis. Some drugs can be selected such as: oral corticosteroids, eye drops, injections; antibiotics to treat infections, antiviral drugs... Surgery: If uveitis is severe, worsens, recurs many times, affecting vision and medical treatment is ineffective, surgical intervention is required. The main surgical methods are to treat complications affecting vision of uveitis:
Glass replacement surgery: for cataracts Surgery to treat glaucoma. Vitrectomy surgery Retinal detachment surgery.

Autoimmune uveitis is not preventable. Uveitis caused by a parasitic infection, it is necessary to pay attention to keeping hands clean, only eat cooked, drink boiled, avoid eating salads and raw foods to avoid infected with worm larvae. Do not wash your face with contaminated water. Protect your eyes with glasses when exposed to dusty environments. When there are signs of uveitis, patients need to go to specialized ophthalmology facilities for timely and urgent examination and treatment. If uveitis is detected, the patient needs to be persistent in treatment because this disease is easy to recur.
Eye specialist at Vinmec has comprehensive vision and eye health care functions for children, adults and the elderly including: refractive error check, laser treatment and surgery. In addition, the department also has the task of coordinating with other clinical departments in the treatment of pathological complications and eye injuries caused by accidents. In addition, the team of Ophthalmologists at Vinmec are experienced doctors who have performed many types of surgery from routine to difficult surgeries, especially those requiring aesthetics. With enthusiasm and love for the profession, the team of doctors working at Vinmec always gives customers the best services with the highest service quality.
With 10 years of experience in the field of Ophthalmology, she used to work at Thai Nguyen Central Hospital and held the position of deputy head of the department and in charge of the Department of Ophthalmology at Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Master Hoang Thanh Nga has a lot of experience in the field of examination and treatment of eye diseases. Currently, is an Ophthalmologist of General Internal Medicine Department of Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital