Uveitis (cont.)

How Is Uveitis Diagnosed?

Uveitis can permanently damage your eyesight and even cause blindness. Therefore, if you have any symptoms of uveitis, is very important for you to see your ophthalmologist right away.

Your ophthalmologist will perform a careful examination of your eyes. He or she may order laboratory tests including blood work or X-rays.

Uveitis may have an underlying cause elsewhere in your body, and your ophthalmologist may want to talk with your primary care doctor or a specialist to evaluate your overall medical health.

How Is Uveitis Treated?

Because uveitis is serious, treatment needs to begin right away. For uveitis not caused by an infection, your ophthalmologist may prescribe eye drops containing steroids to reduce swelling and drugs to relieve pain. Antibiotics are used in patients with infectious uveitis. Dark glasses will help with light sensitivity.

Complications of uveitis may include glaucoma , cataracts , abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eyes that interfere with vision, fluid within the retina, and vision loss. Early diagnosis and treatment by your ophthalmologist is critical.

Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute.

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Edited by Charlotte E. Grayson, MD, WebMD, October 2004.

Last Editorial Review: 6/21/2005