Uveitis

It is not uncommon for the eye to be the first organ involved in diseases that also affect the entire body. Uveitis refers specifically to inflammations and infections inside the eye, which may or may not be associated with diseases elsewhere in the body. The eye responds to various bacterial, viral, and fungal elements in unique ways causing uveitis. Additionally, the body may attack certain normally occurring proteins in the eye as in such autoimmune diseases as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Often it is not the offending organism or the protein that the body is attacking that cause the most profound visual loss, but the bystander damage from white blood cells to healthy, normal tissue surrounding these foci. Bystander damage can be in the form of glaucoma, cataracts, optic nerve damage and retinal damage; some of these may be irreversible depending on the chronicity and degree of inflammation.

Use of specific medicines designed to reduce the inflammation can preserve vision and minimize bystander damage. By taking a comprehensive history; performing detailed examination of the eye and focused organ systems; and ordering targeted laboratory and radiological tests looking for clues, we can decipher what may be causing the inflammation allowing us to tailor treatment regimens whether it be medical or surgical. Our specialists at CEENTA provide early, skillful recognition and prompt, appropriate therapy that can save the eye from visual loss amd discomfort, and preserve one’s life.