The Choroid
The choroid is the layer of tissue underneath the retina which is abundant in blood vessels. When this choroidal layer becomes inflamed, we call the condition uveitis. There are many varieties of uveitis. Some types affect only the front or back part of the eye, while other types affect the entire eye.
There are many causes of uveitis. In fact, certain bacterial, viral, and fungal infections can lead to uveitis. Uveitis may arise from or be related to auto-immune conditions. These autoimmune conditions are conditions in which the body attacks its own tissue. A thorough physical examination, including specific laboratory tests, may discover the underlying cause. However, most of the time, there is no underlying cause for uveitis. Even if no underlying cause can be determined, most of these cases still respond well to medication.
Fortunately, most patients with uveitis become aware of symptoms. For some, the eye becomes red, painful, and sensitive to light. For others, vision becomes blurred. Many cases of uveitis involve both eyes. Fortunately, a thorough eye examination can allow the eye doctor to detect uveitis. In fact, oftentimes uveitis that occurred in the distant past can be detected.
Treating Uveitis
The prognosis for uveitis is variable. Many cases resolve after treatment and never occur again. Other patients have recurrent episodes in one eye and then the other. Unfortunately, there is a group of patients in which the uveitis continues to smolder for many years and never completely resolves, which is called chronic uveitis.
Careful follow-up examinations to assess the response to treatment are obligatory. Uveitis can result in glaucoma, cataracts, or retinal damage. Specifically, if the inflammation results in swelling of the macula and retina, central vision can be significantly compromised.
For most patients, treatment can slow down or prevent the development of many of these associated conditions, but for a small group of patients, these conditions cannot be prevented. Sometimes surgery, either cataract extraction or vitrectomy can be used to restore vision or aid in diagnosis.
