What causes iris inflammation?
Iritis is the inflammation of the colored part of your eye (iris). It can cause symptoms such as eye pain, light sensitivity, headache, and decreased vision. It can lead to serious problems such as severe vision loss and even blindness. Infection, injury, and autoimmune disease are major causes.
What is inflammation of the iris called?
Iritis, also called anterior uveitis, is inflammation of the colored part of your eye called the iris. It can also cause inflammation in the space between your iris and the outer layer of your eye called the cornea.
How do you treat iritis?
Most often, treatment for iritis involves:
- Steroid eyedrops. Glucocorticoid medications, given as eyedrops, reduce inflammation.
- Dilating eyedrops. Eyedrops used to dilate your pupil can reduce the pain of iritis. Dilating eyedrops also protect you from developing complications that interfere with your pupil’s function.
What autoimmune diseases cause iritis?
Ones that can lead to it include:
- Ankylosing spondylitis.
- Behcet’s disease.
- Crohn’s disease.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Psoriasis.
- Reactive arthritis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Sarcoidosis.
Is iritis caused by stress?
Iritis has a wide number of potential causes but there is no conclusive evidence or link to stress being a trigger.
Does iritis ever go away?
Iritis may go away on its own. If it continues, you may need any of the following: Cycloplegic eyedrops dilate your pupil and relax your eye muscles. This helps decrease pain and light sensitivity.
What happens if iritis is left untreated?
If untreated, iritis could lead to glaucoma or vision loss. See your doctor as soon as possible if you have symptoms of iritis.
What usually causes iritis?
Causes of iritis may include: Injury from burns, punctures, or strikes with a blunt object. Conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter syndrome, sarcoidosis, inflammatory bowel disease, Behcet’s disease, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis.
Can iritis lead to blindness?
Iritis Complications
Without treatment, iritis may cause complications that can lead to permanent vision loss or blindness. These include: Clouded lens (cataract) High pressure in your eye (glaucoma)
What is the number one cause of iritis?
Blunt force trauma, a penetrating injury, or a burn from a chemical or fire can cause acute iritis. Infections. Viral infections on your face, such as cold sores and shingles caused by herpes viruses, can cause iritis. Infectious diseases from other viruses and bacteria can also be linked to uveitis.
Can iritis clear up on its own?
Iritis that’s caused by an injury usually goes away within 1 or 2 weeks. Other cases may take weeks or months to clear up. If a bacteria or virus causes your iritis, it will go away after you treat the infection.