Uveitis (inflammation inside the eye)
Uveitis is the inflammation of the uvea. This is the blood carrying layer of the eye. The uvea has an anterior (front section) made up by the iris and ciliary body and a posterior section made up of the choroid. We can only see the iris.
What are the clinical signs of uveitis?
Dogs and cats with uveitis have a spectrum of clinical signs depending upon how severe the inflammation is. Some symptoms include redness to the whites of the eye, pain, colour changes to the iris, smallish pupil, and sediments inside the eye.
Due to the fact that uveitis involves the blood layer of the eye, anything affecting the blood system i.e. infections, cancers or abnormal immune responses, can also damage the eye. For many patients it is important to perform additional tests such as blood work, chest and abdominal xrays, abdominal ultrasound and even CT or MRI to determine the underlying cause.
Causes of uveitis include:
Cats Dogs
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Cataract induced uveitis
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) Uveodermatologic Syndrome
Feline Leukaemia Virus (FELV) Lymphoma
Toxoplasmosis Systemic fungal disease - Cryptococcus or Aspergillus
Systemic fungal disease – Cryptococcus Brucella canis
Bartonella henselae Tick borne diseases
Lymphoma Leptospirosis
Carcinoma of the lung (rare) Trauma
Trauma
Diagnosis of uveitis
In some cases, the cause of uveitis can be diagnosed by sampling fluid from the eye and screening for some of the infectious agents listed above. This procedure can be safely performed under a light sedation and using local anaesthetic. If no causative agent can be found, the uveitis will be treated symptomatically.
Treatment for uveitis
Anti-inflammatory medications both on the eye and systemically are needed to properly treat uveitis. Treatment is often used for many weeks after all clinical signs have gone because recurrence is common
Whilst treatment helps control the reaction, it does not always address the underlying problem. Treatments include:
Complications of uveitis
There are many serious complications of uveitis many of which lead to vision loss. These include:
Uveitis is the inflammation of the uvea. This is the blood carrying layer of the eye. The uvea has an anterior (front section) made up by the iris and ciliary body and a posterior section made up of the choroid. We can only see the iris.
What are the clinical signs of uveitis?
Dogs and cats with uveitis have a spectrum of clinical signs depending upon how severe the inflammation is. Some symptoms include redness to the whites of the eye, pain, colour changes to the iris, smallish pupil, and sediments inside the eye.
Due to the fact that uveitis involves the blood layer of the eye, anything affecting the blood system i.e. infections, cancers or abnormal immune responses, can also damage the eye. For many patients it is important to perform additional tests such as blood work, chest and abdominal xrays, abdominal ultrasound and even CT or MRI to determine the underlying cause.
Causes of uveitis include:
Cats Dogs
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Cataract induced uveitis
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) Uveodermatologic Syndrome
Feline Leukaemia Virus (FELV) Lymphoma
Toxoplasmosis Systemic fungal disease - Cryptococcus or Aspergillus
Systemic fungal disease – Cryptococcus Brucella canis
Bartonella henselae Tick borne diseases
Lymphoma Leptospirosis
Carcinoma of the lung (rare) Trauma
Trauma
Diagnosis of uveitis
In some cases, the cause of uveitis can be diagnosed by sampling fluid from the eye and screening for some of the infectious agents listed above. This procedure can be safely performed under a light sedation and using local anaesthetic. If no causative agent can be found, the uveitis will be treated symptomatically.
Treatment for uveitis
Anti-inflammatory medications both on the eye and systemically are needed to properly treat uveitis. Treatment is often used for many weeks after all clinical signs have gone because recurrence is common
Whilst treatment helps control the reaction, it does not always address the underlying problem. Treatments include:
- Atropine – is used to dilate the pupil and reduce pain inside the eye
- Topical cortisone eye drops: Control the inflammation inside the eye
- Topical Non cortisone eye drops: Control the inflammation inside the eye
- Oral cortisone tablets – Control the “DEEPER” inflammation inside the eye
- Oral Non Cortisone tablets/syrups – Control the “DEEPER” inflammation inside the eye
Complications of uveitis
There are many serious complications of uveitis many of which lead to vision loss. These include:
- Corneal oedema
- Changes to the iris
- Glaucoma
- Shrinkage of the eye (phthsis bulbi)
- Cataract formation
- Retinal damage/detachment
- Look for an underlying cause.
- Treat both topically and systemically
- Treat for an extended period of time
- Recurrence is possible