Uveitis

Uveitis is inflammation inside the eye. This can be caused by injury to the eye or disease elsewhere in the body. A few of the diseases linked to uveitis include Lyme disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. In many cases, the cause of uveitis can't be found.

Depending on which part of the eye is affected and the cause, symptoms may last a few days or a few weeks. This is the most common type. In some cases, it may take months or years to resolve. In severe ongoing (chronic) cases, vision may be affected permanently.

Symptoms include eye pain, redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and floating spots in your vision. This may occur in one or both eyes. Treatment depends on the severity of symptoms and the cause of the uveitis.

• Use medicines as prescribed.
• Wear sunglasses to decrease light sensitivity and discomfort.
• If your eye is dilated, your driving ability may be affected. Don't drive until the blurred vision wears off.
• You may use acetaminophen or ibuprofen to control pain, unless another pain medicine was prescribed. (Note: If you have chronic liver or kidney disease, or if you have ever had a stomach ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding, talk with your doctor before using these medicines.)

Follow up with your doctor as advised. You may need to see an eye specialist. Further testing will be needed to evaluate severe or lasting symptoms.

Contact your doctor right away if any of these occur:

• Increasing eye pain
• Eye redness
• Sudden, partial, or complete vision loss in one or both eyes