Did you know that the term glaucoma actually refers to a group of eye conditions that stems from elevated eye pressure and damage the optic nerve? There are actually many different types of glaucoma, from primary open-angle glaucoma to narrow tension glaucoma to the topic of this week’s blog post: Uveitic Glaucoma.
What is Uveitic Glaucoma?
The relationship between uveitis and glaucoma is relatively complex. Similar to glaucoma, uveitis is a term used to refer to a number of different ocular inflammatory disorders of the middle layer of the eye, the uvea, which provides most of the blood supply to the retina. As a result of inflammatory debris obstructing the trabecular meshwork, or medication (steroids), increased intraocular eye pressure (IOP) can occur. When both increased IOP and optic nerve damage are present, uveitic glaucoma is a very real possibility.
Glaucoma affects roughly 20% of uveitis patients. The prevalence of uveitic glaucoma jumps to 46% in cases of chronic uveitis.
Examples of uveitis include Fuch’s Heterochromic Uveitis, Posner-Schlossman Syndrome, Herpetic uveitis, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and sarcoidosis.
Uveitis symptoms may develop rapidly, affecting one or both eyes, and can include:
- Blurred vision
- Dark, floating spots in the vision
- Eye pain
- Redness of the eye
- Sensitivity to light
Call your eye doctor immediately if you are suffering from blurry vision or any of the other previously mentioned symptoms. Your doctor may refer you to an eye specialist. Uveitis is the third-leading cause of blindness in developed countries, behind Cataracts (#1) Glaucoma (#2).
How is Uveitic Glaucoma Treated?
Early detection and vigilant treatment are the best ways to prevent major vision loss from glaucoma. With diligent treatment – high IOP must be managed daily – we can successfully preserve vision 95% of the time or more using various treatment options: medication, lasers, or surgery. So, when was your last eye exam?
The Anne Arundel Eye Center (AAEC) always welcomes new patients. Led by board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, AAEC offers complete ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. AAEC is a regional leader in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and our state-of-the-art treatment center is dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone.
If you have any questions about Uveitic Glaucoma, please contact Dr. Boles, Dr. Kathryn Gurganus Turner, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010. AAEC is staffed by caring and knowledgeable professionals who will help guide you on your healing journey.