What is uveitis?
Uveitis refers to a group of conditions which all cause inflammation in the eye. The parts of the eye which are affected are collectively known as the uvea. Scleritis causes inflammation of the coats of the eye Inflammation of the eye can occur in anyone of any ethnicity and at almost any age.
Some of these conditions are associated with diseases which affect other parts of the body such as arthritis or lung inflammation. However, for a large number of patients with uveitis or scleritis, the disease is confined to the eye alone and is referred to as undifferentiated but is sometimes still known as idiopathic.
Uveitis can also be caused by infection in some people and if this is the case, it can be treated with the right antibiotic or antiviral treatment.
Find out more here https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/eye-disorders/uveitis-and-related-disorders/uveitis
Who can get uveitis?
Uveitis is uncommon and it is estimated that 2 to 5 in every 10,000 people will be affected by uveitis in UK every year. Uveitis can affects people from childhood to old age but it most commonly affects patients aged 20 to 59. Men and women are both affected.
What are the symptoms of uveitis?
You may have uveitis if you experience the following sign and symptoms but an examination of the eyes is needed.
Pain in one or both eyes
Redness of the eye
Blurred vision
Sensitivity to light
Floaters
Flashing light
Why does it happen?
Many cases are thought to be as a result of a problem with the immune system (the body's defence against illness and infection).
Less common causes of uveitis include an infection or injury to the eye.
Will I go blind?
Most cases of uveitis respond quickly to treatment and cause no further problems. However there is a risk of complications (which is higher if the uveitis affects the middle (intermediate uveitis) and back of the eye (posterior uveitis) or who have repeated episodes of uveitis. It is estimated that the more serious type of uveitis are responsible for 1 in every 10 cases of visual impairment in UK.
Can it be treated?
Yes , If the condition is diagnosed and treated promptly treatment is very effective and prevents damage to the eye. Treatment depends on the type of uveitis and whether it is a type which recurs. If it keeps recurring, the uveitis may need a long-term treatment if steroid drops are not enough. Some of the types of treatment are immunomodulatory medications, steroids given in tablet form ( given as a short term treatment) and steroid drops.
Can I still drive if I have uveitis?
Most patients with uveitis are able to continue driving. However, you have a duty to inform the DVLA if your vision drops below the legal limit of driving due to uveitis. The DVLA have the final say in whether it is safe and legal for you to continue driving. You may also want to inform your insurance company.
Is there anything else I can do to prevent uveitis?
At present there is no proven treatment to prevent uveitis. However if its diagnosed and treated, uveitis can be successfully treated.
What is the Uveitis Clinical Study Group Patient Association?
If you have uveitis, we invite you to join our community of uveitis patients and their carers. We provide online meetings during the year where we can update patients about research which is happening or provide webinars where you can ask questions about uveitis and treatments. We will also keep you up to date about research which is being planned and offer the opportunity for you to help shape its direction and contribute to future treatments and knowledge in this area. If there are new research studies happening, we will also let you know about these.
Patient Voices
We are looking for patients who would be able to give their view on what its like to live with uveitis or who have the experience of participating in research to give their views.
More information about uveitis
https://uveitis.org/patients/education/patient-guides/
https://www.rnib.org.uk/your-eyes/eye-conditions-az/uveitis/
https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/eye-disorders/uveitis-and-related-disorders/uveitis