Inflammation of the eye or in medical terms called uveitis is a condition characterized by swelling in the middle layer of the eye wall tissue (uvea). Inflammation of the eye can occur only on one of both eyes andboth eyes. Generally, this disease affects people aged 20-60 years.
Inflammation of the eye can appear suddenly and can get worse quickly. Early symptoms of inflammation of the eye can include eye pain, red eyes, and blurred vision. If not treated immediately, inflammation of the eye can cause vision problems, even blindness.
Types of Eye Inflammation
Based on the location of inflammation, eye inflammation can be divided into several types, namely:
1. Anterior uveitis (front eye)
Anterior uveitis is often referred to as iritis because it affects the iris or iris, the colored part of the front of the eye. Iritis is the most common type of eye inflammation.
This condition can be caused by a variety of factors, from trauma to the eye to certain health problems, such as: rheumatoid arthritis, syphilis, tuberculosis, and herpes zoster.
2. intermediateuveitis (middle eye)
This condition involves the middle part of the uvea and is also known as iridocyclitis. The word 'intermediate' actually refers to the location of the inflammation and not the severity of the inflammation.
This type of inflammation of the eye can happen to anyone, but it is more common in young adults and is often associated with autoimmune diseases, such as: multiple sclerosis and sarcoidosis.
3. Posterior uveitis (back eye)
This inflammation of the eye is also known as choroiditis because it affects the choroid, which is the network of blood vessels that carry blood to the back of the eye.
Posterior uveitis tends to be more serious than anterior uveitis because it can injure the retinal tissue, putting the risk of visual disturbances and even blindness. This type of eye inflammation is also often associated with infectious and autoimmune diseases.
4. Panuveitis
Panuveitis is the most serious type of inflammation of the eye because it affects the entire uvea and important parts of the eye (including the iris, ciliary body, and choroid). Panuveitis can cause a combination of symptoms from all types of inflammation of the eye.
Inflammation of the eye or uveitis can occur in a short time (acute), or run and last for a long time (chronic), and can even recur. To overcome this, inflammation of the eye must be treated according to the underlying cause.
How to Overcome Inflammation of the Eyes
Patients who experience symptoms of inflammation of the eye should immediately consult an ophthalmologist. To be sure, the doctor can perform a series of examinations, such as:
- Ophthalmoscopy
- Funduscopy
- slit lamp
- Tonometry
- Other investigations, including blood tests and x-rays
After that, the doctor will provide treatment and eye pain medication according to your condition. Some eye inflammation medications that are usually prescribed by doctors are:
Anti-inflammatory drugs
One of the anti-inflammatory drugs that are generally given is corticosteroids. Corticosteroid drugs are available in the form of eye drops, tablets, or injections, the use of which is tailored to the type of inflammation of the eye.
Antibiotics or antiviral drugs
If the uveitis is caused by an infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics or antiviral medications to control the infection.
Immunosuppressant drugs
If it occurs in both eyes, the uveitis may be due to an autoimmune disease, so the patient requires immunosuppressant drugs. This type of drug is also needed if treatment with corticosteroids is not effective or the inflammation of the eye is getting worse.
Avoid using any eye medication to treat inflammation of the eye. If you experience symptoms of inflammation of the eye, immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment, according to the type of inflammation of the eye that you are experiencing.
