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Uveitis

Uveitis is a general term for an inflammatory response in the eye that can be caused by a broad range of diseases or conditions. It is called uveitis because the area that is inflamed is the uvea, although the condition can also affect other areas in the eye such as the lens, the optic nerve, the retina and the vitreous. Uveitis can cause swelling and tissue damage and lead to reduced vision or in more serious cases, even blindness.

What is the Uvea?

The uvea is a layer in the middle of the eye containing three main elements including: the choroid, which is a network of small blood vessels which provides nutrients to the retina; the iris, which is the colored layer around the pupil; and the ciliary body which produces fluid to shape the lens and provide nutrients to keep it healthy.

Types of Uveitis

Uveitis is classified by four different types, depending on the location of the inflammation within the eye. Anterior uveitis, which is the most common form, is when the iris is inflamed, sometimes in combination with the ciliary body. Intermediate uveitis is inflammation of the ciliary body and posterior uveitis is when the choroid is inflamed. When the entire uvea is inflamed, this is called diffuse or pan-uveitis.

Symptoms of Uveitis

Uveitis generally affects individuals between the ages of 20 and 50 and can present a variety of symptoms depending on the cause. The condition can affect one or both eyes and sometimes the symptoms can come on very rapidly. They include:

  • Blurred vision
  • Eye pain
  • Red eyes
  • Light sensitivity
  • Seeing floaters in the field of view

If you experiences these symptoms seek medical attention immediately. Uveitis is usually a chronic disease which can lead to vision loss as well as other eye problems such as glaucoma, retinal detachment and cataracts.

Causes of Uveitis

The cause of uveitis is still somewhat of a mystery. It is often found in connection with eye injuries, viral infections, toxins or tumors in the eye or with systemic autoimmune disorders (such as AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis), or inflammatory disorders (such as Crohn’s disease, colitis or Multiple Sclerosis).

Treatment for Uveitis

Uveitis treatment is designed to reduce and eliminate inflammation and pain and to prevent damage to the tissues within the eye, as well as to restore and prevent vision loss. The inflammation is typically treated with anti-inflammatory steroid eye drops, pills, dissolving capsules or injections, depending on where the condition presents in the eye. Additional medications or treatments may be prescribed depending on the cause of the condition. For example, when the cause is an autoimmune disease, immunosuppressant medications may also be used. If there is a viral infection or elevated intraocular pressure, appropriate medications will be given to treat those issues. Often uveitis is a chronic disease so it’s important to see the eye doctor any time the symptoms appear.

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Dear Valued Customers,

We hope this letter finds you in good health. After a remarkable journey of serving this amazing community for the past ten years, we have to make a difficult decision. Our lease for this property is coming to an end, and we have decided that our last day of business will be October 31, 2023.

We want to take this opportunity to convey our heartfelt appreciation for the trust and support you have shown us over the years. It has been our honor to provide your eye care and eyewear needs. We have enjoyed every minute of delivering professional eye care services and assisting you.

This community has been the heart and soul of our practice, and we will always cherish the memories and connections we made here. Your patronage and commitment have been the driving force behind our success, and we cannot thank you enough.

As we approach our closing date, we would like to invite you to take advantage of our services and products one last time. As a thank you, we will be providing special savings on our eyeglass selection.

Our commitment to your eye health and satisfaction will not waver until the very end. We will also help you move your data or prescriptions to another optometric provider of your choosing. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us for any assistance you may need during this transition by emailing us at Parkoptics8@gmail.com.

While this chapter of Park Optics is coming to an end, we hope to see you in the future as we look for new ways to serve you.

Thank you for being a part of the Park Optics family. It has been our pleasure to serve you, and we hope to see you and say goodbye in the coming weeks.

Warmest regards,

Park Optics Team