Irritation and swelling (inflammation) in the iris (a colored ring around the eye’s pupil) is called iritis (sometimes called uveitis). The middle layer of the eye that is located between the white part and the retina of the eye is called the uvea. Therefore, in the front part of the uvea, the iris is located.
Iritis is one of the most common uveitis types. Uveitis is a condition that causes inflammation of either a part or all uvea. However, most times identifying the cause is not possible but experts believe it occurs due to an underlying condition or genetic factor.
If you do not receive treatment for iritis it may lead to glaucoma or even loss of vision. If you notice iritis symptoms, immediately contact your healthcare professional.
Symptoms
The iritis symptoms may occur in one or both eyes and usually appear suddenly. The symptoms may last up to 3 months. Check below some iritis symptoms:
- Reduced vision
- Light sensitivity
- Achiness or discomfort in the affected eye
- Eye redness
In most cases, symptoms of this condition appear suddenly (over hours or days) and it is called acute iritis. If the symptoms appear slowly or last longer than 3 months it is called chronic iritis.
It is advised to see an ophthalmologist right away if any of the iritis symptoms occur. Not treating the condition may lead to serious complications (such as eye pain, vision loss, and others).
Causes
Mostly, the exact cause of iritis cannot be determined. However, it may be linked with eye trauma, genetic factors, and some health conditions. Check below some potential causes of iritis:
- Eye injuries – This condition is more likely to develop if you experience eye injuries that are often caused by burns from chemicals or fire, penetrating injuries, and others.
- Infections – There are certain viral infections (such as shingles, cold sores, and others) that may cause iritis. Moreover, certain infections caused by bacteria or viruses are linked with uveitis. For example toxoplasmosis, histoplasmosis, tuberculosis, syphilis, and others.
- Genetic factors – Those who experience certain autoimmune conditions due to gene alteration may develop acute iritis. These include arthritis (ankylosing spondylitis), reactive arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and psoriatic arthritis.
- Behcet’s disease – This condition usually occurs in Western countries but causes iritis less commonly. Behcet’s disease may cause mouth and genital sores, joint problems, and other symptoms.
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis – This condition increases the risk of iritis, especially in children.
- Sarcoidosis – This is an autoimmune condition that collects inflammatory cells throughout the body (including the eyes).
- Some medications – These include antibiotics (such as Rifabutin), antiviral medicines (such as Cidofovir), Biphosphonates, and others.
Risk Factors
There are some factors that increase the risk of developing iritis. Check below some of them:
- Genetic changes (mutations) – There is a gene that is vital for immune system function but may cause iritis. The change is known as HLA-B27.
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) – People with syphilis or HIV/AIDS are at higher risk of developing iritis.
- Weakened immune system or autoimmune conditions – These include ankylosing spondylitis and reactive arthritis.
- Tobacco products – Smokers have an increased risk of getting iritis.
What Are The Possible Complications of Iritis?
Without proper treatment, this condition may cause some complications. These include:
- Cataracts – This is an eye condition, in which clouding of the lens happens.
- Irregular pupils – The iris may stick to the underlying lens or the cornea due to scar tissues. As a result, it leads to irregular pupil shape.
- Glaucoma – Those who experience iritis for long periods or several times are more prone to develop glaucoma. This is a condition in which pressure inside the eye becomes too high, which may cause vision loss.
- Calcium deposits on the cornea – People who experience this complication may also notice a decrease in their vision.
- Retina swelling – This complication may lead to blurred vision or reduced central vision.
Diagnosis
Doctors usually diagnose this condition by performing a complete eye examination. It includes:
- External examination – They usually check for discharge, redness, and other iritis symptoms.
- Visual acuity – This is a special test of how sharp is your vision.
- Slit-lamp examination – This test involves a microscope with a light on it to view inside the eye for iritis symptoms. Physicians may use eye drops to dilate the pupils, which allows see inside the eye.
Additional tests may be performed by your doctor if he/she suspects iritis is caused by other health problems. Blood tests and X-rays may be involved.
Treatment
The treatment focuses on preserving vision and reducing pain and inflammation. You also may need other medicines to treat the underlying condition. Check below some medicines usually recommended by doctors for people with iritis:
- Steroid eye drops – Glucocorticoid eye drops are used to reduce inflammation.
- Dilating eye drops – Medicines that dilate pupils help to lessen the pain of iritis. These medications also help protect you from possible complications of iritis.
If you do not notice any improvements while using previous medicines, you should visit a doctor for oral steroids or other anti-inflammatory medicines depending on the severity of the condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary treatment option for people with iritis?
The main treatment options recommended by doctors include topical cycloplegics (that help dilate the pupil and pupillary spasms) and topical steroids (that help reduce inflammation and pain). However, if you do not notice any improvements after using previous medicines, contact your healthcare professional immediately.
What are the iritis causes?
While not every time is possible to determine the exact cause of iritis, doctors suspect the following conditions and factors could play a role. For example:
- Sarcoidosis
- Genetic factors
- Some medicines
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
- Bacterial or viral infections
- Eye injuries
Talk with your doctor for more details.
What are the iritis complications?
Early diagnosis and proper treatment may help prevent iritis complications. Check below some of them:
- Swelling of the retina
- Calcium deposits on the cornea
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Irregular pupils
- Blindness
If you have additional questions, ask your healthcare provider.
