Eye Care | Uveitis

Uveitis is inflammation of the uveal tract, the middle layer of your eye. The eyeball has three different layers of tissue surrounding a central gel-filled cavity.The uvea is the middle layer between the sclera and the retina.

The uvea contains many blood vessels, veins and arteries that carry blood to the eye.Because the uvea provides nourishment to many important parts of the eye, inflammation of the uvea can damage your sight.

Symptoms of uveitis include light sensitivity, blurring of vision, pain and redness of the eye. Uveitis can be caused by many different things such as a virus, fungus, parasite, bacteria, a related disease in other parts of the body (such as arthritis), or as the result of an injury to the eye.Uveitis can come on suddenly with redness and pain or sometimes with a painless blurring of your vision.

If your eye becomes red or painful and doesn't clear up quickly, you should be examined and treated by an ophthalmologist. A thorough eye examination is extremely important when symptoms occur. Inflammation inside the eye can permanently affect your sight or can even lead to blindness when left untreated.

The Wheaton Eye Clinic Ophthalmologist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of uveitis is:

• Byron R. Tabbut, M.D.