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Uveitis Specialists

If you’re experiencing eye floaters, blurry vision, or eye pain, you could have uveitis, which is an inflammation of the uvea. The uvea resides beneath the sclera, which is the white part of your eye. It consists of the iris, ciliary and choroid. When the uvea of the eye becomes inflamed, it could be due to an infection, which means you should schedule an appointment with our uveitis specialists at Marietta Eye Clinic in North Atlanta.

What Diseases Can Cause Uveitis?

Several diseases can cause uveitis, including:

  • AIDS– An autoimmune disease caused by the HIV virus.
  • Axial Spondyloarthritis – Causes the bones in the spine to fuse.
  • Behcet’s Disease– Causes chronic inflammation of the blood vessels.
  • Lupus– An autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks healthy cells.
  • Multiple Sclerosis– Believed to be an autoimmune disease. It affects the central nervous system.
  • Psoriasis– An overactive immune system causes the skin cells to multiply faster than needed and can result in scaly and inflamed skin.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis– An autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack healthy cells. This results in inflammation.
  • Sarcoidosis– Causes an overreaction of the immune system, resulting in the formation of granulomas. These are most often found in the lungs but can be located anywhere on the body.

Types of Uveitis

There are four types of uveitis, including:

  • Anterior – Inflammation of the iris or the front of the eye. It is also sometimes referred to as iritis or cyclitis.
  • Intermediate– Inflammation of the gel inside the eye. This is sometimes referred to as cyclitis or vitritis.
  • Posterior – Inflammation of the back of the eye or retina. This can sometimes be referred to as retinitis or choroiditis.
  • Panuvitis– Inflammation of the entire uvea from the front to the back.

Symptoms of Uveitis

It’s important to note that the symptoms of uveitis typically appear suddenly. They can include:

  • Suddenly experiencing blurry vision.
  • Seeing floaters.
  • Having red eyes.
  • Suddenly being sensitive to light.
  • Experiencing eye pain.

Treatments for Uveitis

Our uveitis doctors can examine your eyes with a dilated eye exam to diagnose the condition. If the inflammation isn’t caused by an infection, various steroid medications may be prescribed. These can include steroid drops, pills, or injections. If the uveitis is caused by an infection, medication to treat the infection may be prescribed along with steroid medications. These are the two most common treatments for uveitis.

If the steroids and medications fail to alleviate the uveitis, immunosuppressants may be prescribed to help control your immune system and lower inflammation. In rare cases, surgery may be prescribed. The surgery involves removing the liquid inside the eye, called the vitreous humour, and replacing it with gas or another liquid. Over time, the vitreous humour naturally replaces itself.

If you’ve recently experienced changes in your vision, it’s important to schedule an appointment with our uveitis specialist to diagnose and treat your vision changes by calling us at 770-427-8111.

Getting an Exam at Marietta Eye Clinic

A thorough eye examination is necessary to diagnose uveitis. Dr. Dhanu Meleth and Dr. Lakshmana Kooragayala have completed uveitis fellowships and are two of the few specialists in the state of Georgia who are able to diagnose and treat this condition. Prior to diagnosis, they may order blood tests, skin tests, or x-rays to determine whether you have uveitis or another condition. Since uveitis can be caused by illnesses in other parts of the body, your uveitis specialist will want to know about your overall health and may consult with your primary care physician or other specialists.

If you have any symptoms of uveitis, call us today at (770) 427-8111 or text us at (770) 427-0400 to schedule your eye exam.

 

Set Up A Consultation

When it comes to your eyes, nothing beats a face-to-face consultation with one of our eye doctors. Request an appointment to meet with one of our specialists.

CALL US 770-427-8111 Schedule an Appointment

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