Health Information – Dealing with Iritis

Posted on 30. Jan, 2012 by admin in Health & Medicine

Iritis, an inflammation of the iris of the eye, can be a very painful and debilitating condition. In most cases the problem is short-lived. If treated properly, the condition can be cured within a period of several weeks or a few months But when not diagnosed quickly or treated appropriately, it can lead to cataracts, glaucoma or even blindness.

A victim of iritis will begin to experience cloudy vision and a reddening of the eye. This will be accompanied by an intense photo sensitivity, which means that bright light can trigger pain. In more severe cases, this photo sensitivity can become almost unbearable.

Iritis can be caused by a variety of factors, making it difficult to diagnose the cause in particular cases. The victim may have a genetic predisposition, and autoimmune disorder, or an infection that contributes to the condition. Eye trauma and certain cancers can also be a cause. Iritis if often a symptom of another problem, though that problem is not always identifiable.

Whatever the cause, a victim should immediately make an appointment to see an ophthalmologist. A visit to an optometrist, a local clinic, or the emergency room may be necessary to get a referral.

Once the ophthalmologist examines the eye and confirms the condition of iritis, he or she will likely prescribe a series of steroid eye drops and dilating eye drops. Other steroid treatments maybe necessary in more severe cases The ophthalmologist will also schedule a series of follow-up appointments to monitor the progress of the treatment.

During the painful onset photo sensitivity, an iritis victim may want to wear sunglasses or an eye patch to limit exposure to light. Once treatment begins, this photo sensitivity will subside quickly. However, even when the pain disappears, the treatment should be continued until the ophthalmologist verifies that the condition has been cured.

For many victims of iritis, the condition occurs only once. For others, it may be a recurring problem (sometimes with several years between episodes). Whenever it occurs, it should be treated quickly and seriously.

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Tags: autoimmune, eye, genetic, health, inflammation, iris