The eyes are the most sensitive yet the most important organ of the human body. Most parts of the body (especially the brain) work in conjunction with the eyes since they send visual information. As crucial as they are, the eyes are also very easy to become damage or a breeding ground for infectious agents.

If you’ve experienced an eye injury, bacterial or viral infection, it can cause inflammatory eye disease called “Uveitis.” Uveitis can irritate the middle layer of your eye, surrounding tissue, and uvea, causing inflammation. It can be quite painful, with eyes turning red and causing cloudy vision.

Here’s what you need to know about it.

Symptoms of Uveitis

Depending on the severity of your condition, the symptoms and signs of uveitis can vary. In most cases, they occur suddenly, but sometimes they can also surface gradually, with the common symptoms being:

• Eye redness and pain
• Floaters (spots in the eye that look like chains of transparent bubbles or tiny rods)
• Blurred or cloudy vision
• Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
• Headaches

If not treated, uveitis can also cause permanent vision loss.

Causes of Uveitis

Uveitis is a common eye problem that can happen to anyone.

Some common causes of uveitis include:

• Herpes
• HIV and AIDS
• Brucellosis
• Shingles
• Lyme disease
• Leptospirosis
• Syphilis
• Toxocariasis
• Toxoplasmosis
• Tuberculosis (TB)

Other causes can also include autoimmune or inflammatory disorders, such as:

• Psoriasis
• Crohn’s disease
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Arthritis
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis(MS)

How Is Uveitis Diagnosed?

Since uveitis is an eye disease, you’ll need to visit an ophthalmologist who will perform various eye exams to determine the severity of your condition. During these exams, the ophthalmologist will look at your eye using a special slit lamp to see if white blood cells are visible in the anterior chamber or vitreous.

They will also look for bumps on the cornea, called keratic precipitates. The ophthalmologist will prescribe you medicines, eye drops, and other treatments based on the findings.

Treatment Plan for Uveitis

If uveitis is dealt with promptly, the recovery can be quick and painless. However, you’re at risk for cataracts, band keratopathy, glaucoma, retinal edema, and permanent blindness without proper treatment.

Ophthalmologists usually recommend or prescribe one of the following:

• Oral steroids (tablets and pills)
• Injected steroids in or around the eye
• A surgical implant that continues to provide small doses of steroids

Is Treatment for Uveitis Expensive?

Depending on the severity of your condition, the most expensive phase of the treatment is usually the surgical implant. Whether or not your insurance provider covers its cost depends on your insurance plan.

However, if you need financial assistance to fill prescriptions, you can contact Advocate My Meds. We’re a full-service prescription assistance programs organization with a prescription assistance program for various medical conditions.

Contact us now to learn more.