Uveitis and Ocular Inflammatory Disease

Symptoms of Uveitis and Ocular Inflammatory Disease

The signs and symptoms of uveitis and other ocular inflammatory diseases depends on the types of inflammation and can last for a short (acute) or long (chronic) time. The severest forms of ocular inflammation may reoccur several times over. Symptoms often come on suddenly and get worse quickly.

Early symptoms of uveitis and ocular inflammatory disease may include:

• A small pupil
• Changes in the color of the iris, the colored part of the eye around the pupil
• Decreased or blurred vision
• Eye pain
• Floaters (seeing specks or shadows) in the field of vision
• Photophobia, or sensitivity to light
• Red eye, redness around the eye, or bloodshot eyes
• Swelling and irritation

Late symptoms of uveitis and ocular inflammatory disease may include:

• Vision loss

Risk Factors for Uveitis and Ocular Inflammatory Disease

Uveitis and ocular inflammatory diseases often occur without an identifiable cause, but some people are more likely to develop the condition. However,

Risk factors for uveitis and ocular inflammatory disease may include:

• Family history: A family history of inflammatory conditions can increase your risk of uveitis or other ocular inflammatory disease.
• Health history: In some cases, ocular inflammatory conditions can be traced back to an eye injury, an infection (e.g., herpes, Lyme disease, shingles, syphilis, tuberculosis, etc.), or an autoimmune disease (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.).
• Personal history: Tobacco use is associated with uveitis and ocular inflammatory disease.

Treating Uveitis and Ocular Inflammatory Disease at UT Health Austin

Treatment is dependent on the underlying cause of the ocular inflammation, the severity of the disease, and which part of the eye is affected in addition to the patient’s overall health. Your first visit often takes 2-4 hours depending on the complexity of your case and any in-clinic testing that may be required. Your uveitis specialist is well-versed in the most current, evidence-based treatment recommendations, which may include medications (by mouth or injection) or surgery.

Care Team Approach

At UT Health Austin, we take a multidisciplinary approach to your care. This means you will benefit from the expertise of multiple specialists across a variety of disciplines. Your care team will include fellowship-trained ophthalmologists, ophthalmic technicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, social workers, and more who work together to help you get back to the things in your life that matter most to you. We also collaborate with our colleagues at the Dell Medical School and The University of Texas at Austin to utilize the latest research, diagnostic, and treatment techniques, allowing us to identify new therapies to improve treatment outcomes. We are committed to communicating and coordinating your care with your other healthcare providers to ensure that we are providing you with comprehensive, whole-person care.

Learn More About Your Care Team