Vision Care » Iritis

Iritis Eye Condition

admin — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:19:49 +0000

Iritis is an eye condition occurring when the iris becomes irritated and inflamed. The Iris is the coloured area around the pupil and will contract and relax in order to protect the pupil from damage from light.

The Causes of Iritis

It is very little known what causes this and sometimes can be just a one off occasion and the reason for it can be unknown, however sometimes other medical conditions can contribute to this condition. Diseases and illnesses such as ankylosing spondylitits, psoriasis, Reiter syndrome and tuberculosis have been found to be contributing factors.

Another cause could be a trauma, blow or foreign body getting into the eye and also if any fragments are still remaining.

It is wise to see you doctor if your think this could be the case

Symptoms

The most common symptoms, which can come on fairly quickly are: -

Blurred vision

An aversion to light

Redness and irritation around the iris and pupil, occasionally the shape of the pupil may appear different than normal and sometimes a headache can occur.

These symptoms can cause various degrees of pain

Treating Iritis

If you experience any of these symptoms it is important to see your doctor for treatment to prevent any long term damage

Paracetamol or Ibuprofen can be taken to reduce the pain and avoid bright light, wear sunglasses when necessary and rest when possible. Eye drops can be prescribed which will help dilate the pupil to allow the Iris to heal and inflammation to reduce.

If the iritis was not caused by infection, it is also common for steroid preparations to be used to reduce the inflammation. If an infection has caused the problem then antibiotic eye-drops may be used to clear infection and clear any bacterial residue

Your doctor will need to check there are no remaining foreign bodies in the eye and will need to check again that everything has been cleared up at a later date.

Iritis is a common and irritating condition and will require medical attention. If you have any of the conditions or symptoms above then check with your GP or seek advice from your optician.

What You Need To Know For Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Iritis

admin — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:18:21 +0000

There are plenty of diseases and afflictions that many people have, but irritable bowel syndrome and iritis are two disorders that can cause severe pain for anyone who has them. Irritable bowel syndrome mainly affects the bowels and bowel habits, while iritis is more associated with the inflammation of the eye.

One of the reasons that these two disorders can be severe and painful to those who have them is because they can often be misdiagnosed or completely missed altogether.

Nevertheless, thousands of people suffer from these 2 diseases each day. Fortunately, though, there are some great relief options for those who are inflicted with this. Here is some more information about these two disorders, though, and what some of the treatment options are. Even though there are hardly any shared symptoms between irritable bowel syndrome and iritis because they are two different disorders, many of the symptoms center on great pain in both of the areas that are afflicted.

For starters, irritable bowel syndrome causes pain with the bowels, often provoking diarrhea, constipation, and terrible abdominal pain. In fact, one of the greatest indicators of this disorder is the abdominal pain, which is why it’s so important to indicate that symptom to the doctor.

On the other hand, since iritis is involved with inflammation of the iris part of the eye then one of the obvious symptoms and signs associated with this disorder is pain in the eye. There can be various degrees of pain also associated with iritis, but the pain mainly affects the eye whenever light is exposed to it.

The next issue that is important to cover concerning irritable bowel syndrome and iritis is the different treatment options. When you discover or think you might have one of these diseases then it’s always best to speak to your doctor first before using any treatment methods. But if you do have a confirmed case of ibs and iritis then there are some important options your doctor will pose to you.

First, iritis treatment will often involve a series of eye drops which will decrease the swelling and inflammation in your eye. Chances are that your physician will also prescribe a medication for the pain at least until the swelling in your eye is down.

On the other hand, ibs has a different type of medication, especially since this disorder is often chronic and sticks with those who discover that they have it. Laxatives are definitely an option with irritable bowel syndrome but chances are that your doctor will not keep you on this type of medication for long.

Other types of medication that will help irritable bowel syndrome, though, include Tegaserod, Alosetron, and Cilansetron. On the other hand, one of the major components of treatment for irritable bowel syndrome is focusing on your diet to include more fruits, vegetables, and an overall healthy lifestyle plan.

All of these treatment methods are great for helping individuals afflicted with both of these diseases. As mentioned, these two diseases are very serious to those who have them, and if you think that you are suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and iritis then it would be best to be checked out by a doctor.

All in all, though, irritable bowel syndrome and iritis do have important treatment options and these options can significantly reduce the symptoms and pain that is felt with both irritable bowel syndrome and iritis.

Iritis – A Serious Inflammatory Condition

admin — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:17:23 +0000

When I first read about this condition, I was taken by surprise. Arthritis is commonly associated with joints and cartilage. But “iritis” is a very different form of eye irritation and should not be confused with conjunctivitis (pink eye). Although it may sound like a case of arthritis in the eye, the cause of iritis is not always possible to uncover. When it comes to this serious condition, the best medicine is prevention and early diagnosis. Today I’m going to give you some insight about this unusual disease. Let first tell you what it is, how it’s treated, and then some healthy answers on how to prevent this inflammation of the eye.

What is Iritis?

Iritis is inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, or the uvea. The muscles located there adjust the size of the iris, expanding and contracting based on light and other conditions. When these muscles become inflamed, the iris may be damaged. This can result in small or irregularly shaped pupils, glaucoma or other serious problems.

In many cases iritis is not connected to a specific cause. In some people, however, genetics or an existing chronic condition may trigger iritis. People suffering from chronic rheumatoid arthritis may be at risk. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation in the body and affects movement. It is possible that the condition may spread to the eye. Iritis is even more common in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Injury to the eye is another possible cause.

If you suspect you have contracted iritis, see a doctor as soon as possible. Intervention is essential for preventing serious complications, including blindness. People with iritis do not generally experience increased tears or eye discharge, but there are several symptoms to watch out for. You may have redness, especially a pink cast in the white of the eye. You may be sensitive to light and feel discomfort in the eye. Blurred vision is another common sign, as well as floating spots in your vision. If you have no reason to suspect a different problem, see your doctor at the first sign of symptoms.

Treating and Preventing Iritis

As I discussed above, iritis is a serious condition, which must be treated by a doctor right away. In most cases, medication is necessary to protect your vision and relieve pain and discomfort. Steroid eye drops may be used to fight inflammation. Dilating eye drops can lessen pain and prevent damage to the iris. If these treatments do not reduce inflammation, oral steroids may be prescribed.

If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis or have family members who suffer from this condition, some natural prevention tactics may reduce your risk of iritis. The food you eat has a great effect on inflammation in the body. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are known to reduce inflammation. Find them in fish like salmon and tuna, walnuts and flax seeds, as well as nutritional supplements. For cooking and salad dressing, choose olive or canola oil. Whole grains and fresh produce also contribute to health.

Foods you should avoid are white carbohydrates, processed snack foods, anything high in sugar and processed meats, such as deli turkey or sausage. To further tackle inflammation, you may want to consider visiting a naturopathic doctor. He or she can determine the right nutrients and herbs to treat your individual needs.

Natural vitamin supplements are a smart way to keep your eyes healthy and prevent iritis. Look for brands formulated for optimal eye health. Ingredients with vision benefits include vitamins A, C and E, zinc and selenium. Certain natural extracts and antioxidants can boost the benefits of these vitamins. Some examples are lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, alpha lipoic acid, bilberry, and ginko biloba.

If you think you may be at risk for iritis, consider the natural measures I described to prevent the onset of this condition. Anyone who is concerned about his vision and overall health can benefit from an anti-inflammatory diet and vitamin supplements. Remember to see you doctor if symptoms arise to keep your vision will stay strong and healthy for a lifetime.

What is the Cause of Iritis?

admin — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:15:16 +0000

Iritis is caused due to inflammation of iris (iris is the circular muscle near the front of the eye, the colored portion of the eye. Besides giving color to the eye, the iris controls the amount of light which enters the eye through pupil it is located behind the cornea). The inflammation can be caused due to injury in eye or infection on other part of the body. Diseases such as arthritis, tuberculosis, or syphilis can also cause chronic iritis. Inflammation of front part of the eye is also referred as uvetis.

Trauma or injury in an around the eye is one of the major cause of iritis. Iritis is also caused due to infection on other part of the body. Non trauma causes of iritis may include diseases such as arthritis, tuberculosis, or syphilis can contribute to the development of iritis. Infection in other parts of body like tonsils, kidneys, gallbladder, and teeth can also cause inflammation of iris and thus leading to iritis. Iritis is also cause due to injury in eye or development of ulcer in cornea but often the exact cause of disorder remains unknown.

The common symptoms of iritis may include pain in iris, light sensitivity and blurred vision. In some cases pupil may become smaller in the eye affected by iritis. There are two main types of iritis acute and chronic. Acute iritis can be healed quickly within weeks if treatment is provided where as chronis iritis can exists for months or years. Chronic iritis does not respond well to the treatment, and there is higher risk of vision loss.

Iritis – The Serious Disease Of The Eye

admin — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:07:06 +0000

Young individuals present with history of redness of eyes and mild blurring of one of the eyes. This blurring slowly progresses and also he gets pain and photophobia (difficulty in facing the powerful sunlight.) and also watering. This is the usual presentation of the Iritis- the infection of the iris. Mostly these symptoms appear in only one eye, the other eye may also get affected later.

Iris is a curtain-like outer tissue encircling the pupil, behind the cornea. It is the one which gives the color to the eye which we describe variously as black eye, brown eye etc., Iritis or Iridocyclitis is a serious disease of the eye. Generally it is mistaken for simple conjunctivitis or red eye. As a result patient wastes plenty of time before consulting an Eye-specialist. The problem is if the patient starts treatment in the late phase of the disease, even the best of treatment will not prevent damage to the structure and function of the eye. In the anterior uveitis or iritis, the iris is affected in different grades depending on the severity of the disease. With the result, the pupil which is normally round gets deformed or go out of shape. Sometimes different types of exudates would accumulate in the papillary area or anterior chamber.

The Eye-specialist has to find the cause of iritis. He usually recommends blood and urine tests and, if the cough is severe then the sputum examination also has to be done. In spite of these tests, many a time the cause may not be detected. Then the treatment becomes difficult.

The Eye surgeon has to treat the patient empirically , with the assumption that the infection is somewhere in the body. Sometimes diseases like Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Leprosy and Tuberculosis may be causative factor for the disease. Then the treatment becomes comparatively easy. Some allergic reaction in the body may also cause iritis.

Early diagnosis and treatment has beneficial effects. Steroid and atropine eye drops, systemic steroid ( steroid given in the form of tablets or injections) and systemic antibiotics are given. This requires a prolonged treatment. Some patients do not complete the course of the treatment, with the result the disease recurs. If the treatment is not taken properly or otherwise also due to the severity of the disease, there would be disastrous effects. Iris shrinks in different proportions resulting in what is known as synechia. The clear normal lens of the eye also gets affected resulting in complicated cataract causing complete blindness. If the disease goes beyond this stage, it would make the eyeball small and useless- Pthisis Bulbi. The treatment is not effective in advanced phase of the disease. That is why it is very important to diagnose at the early stage of the disease and institute methodic treatment, which would be helpful.