Uveitis: Diagnosis, treatment & recovery in Turkey 2024

Types of uveitis

There are four main types of uveitis, depending on the part of the eye affected:

• Anterior uveitis: affects the front of the eye, involving the iris (iritis) and/or ciliary body (iridocyclitis). Inflammation occurs primarily in the anterior chamber, the area between the cornea and the iris.
• Intermediate uveitis: Located in the central part of the eye, it mainly affects the vitreous, the gelatinous substance that fills the eye cavity.
• Posterior uveitis: Affects the back of the eye, particularly the retina, choroid, and optic nerve.
• Panuveitis: This is a more extensive form of uveitis in which the inflammation affects several parts of the eye or even the entire uvea at the same time.

Uveitis can also be classified according to the acuteness of its onset (sudden or progressive),the persistence of its symptoms (limited or prolonged),and its course (acute, subacute, or chronic).

Classification of uveitis allows us to better understand the nature of the inflammation and tailor treatment accordingly.

Consult an ophthalmologist in Turkey as soon as symptoms appear for accurate diagnosis and regular follow-up.

Symptoms of uveitis

Uveitis, an inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, presents with a variety of symptoms, the intensity and nature of which depend on the location and severity of the inflammation.

Signs on ophthalmologic examination

Regardless of the type of uveitis, slit lamp examination reveals the following:

• Cells and flare in the anterior chamber: presence of inflammatory cells and opacification of the aqueous humor.
• Keratic precipitates: deposits of inflammatory cells on the cornea.
• Posterior synechiae: Adhesions between the iris and the crystalline lens.
• Hypopyon: accumulation of inflammatory cells at the back of the anterior chamber.
• Retinal and choroidal lesions: Areas of inflammation or destruction of retinal and choroidal tissue.
• Retinal vasculitis: Inflammation of the retinal blood vessels.

Symptoms of uveitis may be subtle or absent, especially in chronic forms. Therefore, it is important to consult an ophthalmologist as soon as any visual disturbance or eye discomfort occurs.

Causes of uveitis

Inflammation of the uvea can have a variety of causes. It is often a warning sign of systemic disease, i.e., disease affecting other organs in the body.

The causes of uveitis are varied and can be classified as follows:

• Infectious causes: Infectious agents such as viruses (herpes),bacteria (tuberculosis, syphilis),or parasites (toxoplasmosis) can cause inflammation of the eye. Toxoplasmosis, in particular, is a common cause of eye inflammation associated with the consumption of contaminated meat or vegetables. The lesions it causes in the retina can lead to severe vision loss, especially if they affect the macula.
• Non-infectious causes: In many cases, uveitis is associated with systemic inflammatory diseases such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Behçet's disease, or sarcoidosis.
• Idiopathic: In nearly one-third of cases, the cause of uveitis is unknown.

Treatment of uveitis in Turkey

In Turkey, the treatment of uveitis is multimodal based on the identification of the underlying cause:

• Antibiotic treatment: the initial treatment adopted for uveitis of infectious origin.
• Corticosteroids: administered in various forms (eye drops, injections, systemic),corticosteroids are the treatment of choice to reduce inflammation in the acute phase of uveitis.
• Immunomodulatory drugs: For chronic or recurrent uveitis that is difficult to manage or intolerant to corticosteroids, immunomodulatory drugs may be effective in controlling inflammation. This may require individualized treatment over a long period, often combining medical treatment and regular follow-up.
• Surgical intervention: Surgical intervention may be considered to establish a precise diagnosis or to treat the sequelae of intraocular inflammation (cataract, glaucoma, etc.),especially in chronic forms.