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What is uveitis?
Uveitis occurs when the inner eye layers become inflamed due to injury, infection or autoimmune diseases.
Inflammation can affect any part of the uvea, which includes:
- The coloured region of the eye (iris)
- The part of the eye called the ciliary body that produces fluid in the eye and controls the movement of the lens.
- The back of the eyeball’s lining (choroid)
If we cannot determine the cause of uveitis, we refer to it as idiopathic uveitis.
What are the signs of uveitis?
Signs of uveitis may not be as apparent at first, but the initial warning signs may include light sensitivity and blurry vision. In addition, the child’s eyes may also appear red or murky
How do we treat uveitis?
Typically treatment for uveitis in children involves a multidisciplinary team effort and depends on the cause of the uveitis.
Doctors often prescribe steroid drops or oral steroids to treat the inflammation in the eyes. However, the long-term use of steroids has side effects, so other medicines like biologicals are added to the treatment regime.
Regular eye screenings and follow-up appointments are required to manage uveitis in children.
How soon should you treat uveitis in children?
Uveitis in children should be treated as soon as it is detected. Often, children with underlying joint diseases will have regular eye checks to screen for associated uveitis.
“Vision is the true creative rhythm”
- Robert Delaunay