In cases of anterior uveitis, patients often experience the following symptoms:

• Eye redness, especially in the area near the edge of the cornea; often there is no eye discharge, but patients may still have teary eyes.
• Blurred vision, though how much or little depends on the severity of the inflammation and other complications.
• Light sensitivity.
• Eye pain.
• Dark, floating spots in your field of vision (floaters).

In the case of uveitis that is related to other physical disorders, symptoms of those conditions will be present as well, for example, back pain due to diseases of the bones and joints.

Uveitis treatment includes correcting the underlying cause or condition, controlling inflammation, and reducing the risk of complications. It is necessary for the physician to conduct a complete eye exam and thorough review of the patient’s medical history, along with a physical examination and other laboratory tests as deemed necessary in order to provide a precise diagnosis for continued treatment. Treatment can be generally summarized as follows:

• Treat the disease that is the underlying cause of or occurring simultaneously to the uveitis.
• If it is non-infectious uveitis, your doctor will likely give you steroid medications or immunosuppressants to help reduce inflammation. These can be prescribed as drops, pills or injections.
• For infectious uveitis, the doctor may prescribe drugs to help fight bacteria or viruses. These may come in oral or injection form.
• Treat the complications caused by the uveitis, such as cataracts, macular pucker (epiretinal membrane), glaucoma, CSC, etc.

Today, both knowledge and technology used in the diagnosis of uveitis has developed and advanced significantly. This means that predictions of the disease are far more accurate and, in some cases, physicians are even able to monitor and provide the patient with medication to prevent the disease. For example, for patients with anterior uveitis related to the HLA-b27 gene who contract the condition more than 3 times per year, the doctor may consider prescribing NSAID medications or sulfasalazine in order to prevent recurrence of the disease.

Uveitis has a high chance of recurrence. Many patients have to live with the disease for their entire lives. Therefore, knowing the exact cause and understanding the nature of the disease is very important – and will help patients with caring for themselves properly, reduce the chances of recurrence, and minimize the possibility of further complications.

If you suspect you may be experiencing symptoms of uveitis or that you are in the at risk group, you should seek out consultation with an ophthalmologist who is a uveitis specialist so that you can receive proper diagnosis and continued treatment.