Inflammation of the eye is a generalised term used to describe redness, pain, swelling, light sensitivity any associated visual disturbance of the eye. Inflammation can affect different parts of the eye causing a variety of conditions
- Uveitis – is the inflammation of middle layer of the eye and is the commonest inflammatory eye condition. It can cause redness, pain, floaters and vision loss and affects front, middle and back of the eye or sometimes all of it. It can give rise to complications such as cataracts and glaucoma.
Uveitis is generally diagnosed and treated by a specialist trained in eye inflammation. It needs bloods and imaging investigations to find if there are any systemic associations.
It is treated with steroid drops, steroid injections and tablets. In severe sight threatening cases, it needs use of immune suppressants or biologics medications that can be prescribed only by an ocular immunologist.
Uveitis is generally a chronic and recurrent condition that needs treatment and monitoring for a long time.
- Ocular surface inflammation – inflammation and allergies of the surface of the eye often precipitate a vicious cycle of tear film instability and dry eye that in turn worsens the surface inflammation. Skin-lid-ocular surface disorders, contact lens wear, severe dry eyes are treated with steroid and immune modulatory drops. Severe conditions like chemical injuries, pemphigoid, drug reactions need systemic steroids and biologic drugs.
- Orbital inflammation –Any or all structures within the orbit or eye socket may become inflamed because of body wide inflammatory disease or an inflammatory disorder that just affects the eye. The condition presents as pain, bulging eyes, double vision, vision loss and sometimes puffiness and swelling of the lids. Treatment is in the form of corticosteroid and immune suppressant tablets or injections.
- Thyroid eye disease- Thyroid eye disease causes the muscles and fat in the eye socket to get inflamed and swell up pushing the eyeball forward and causing a myriad of visual symptoms. It is usually associated with a dysfunctioning thyroid gland. Treatment is multidisciplinary involving immunosuppression, radiation, surgery and thyroid function monitoring to minimise visual damage as the disease runs its course
- Optic nerve inflammation- this has a multifactorial cause and presents as temporary loss of vision and pain .This condition is jointly managed with the neurologist and involves treatment with steroids and immune suppressants
- Scleritis and Episcleritis – These are inflammations of superficial and deep white coats of the eye. Episcleritis is benign and self-limiting, while scleritis is painful and can cause sight threatening complications. Both need prompt attention and treatment with steroids.