Iris inflammation

Iris inflammation

Irisitis is a condition that affects the membrane of the eye that gives the eye color. Symptoms can be pain, lightheadedness and red, watery eyes. It is important that this is treated as early as possible to prevent serious complications such as permanent vision loss and blindness.

What is iritis?

Irisitis (iridocyclitis) is an inflammation of the iris of the eye that is not caused by bacteria or viruses. The condition usually only affects one eye, but it can also occur in both. Iris inflammation can be both acute and chronic, and there are several different variants of the disease. Anyone can experience getting it, but it is most common between the ages of 20 and 40.

Cause of iritis?

Irisitis occurs as a result of the body's own immune system reacting to, and causing inflammation of, the iris in the eye. The iris is the membrane of the eye that gives the eye color. This can be affected alone, or the area where the lens muscle in the eye is located (corpus ciliare) can also be affected at the same time. All the details of the development of the disease have not been clarified. Most people who get iritis do not have other underlying diseases, but there are still some diseases that increase the risk of getting the condition.

Conditions that give an increased risk of getting iritis:

• Bekhterev's disease

• Tuberculosis

• Connective tissue diseases

• Arthritis

• Injury to the eye that causes a hole in the cornea

Symptoms of iritis

In the affected eye, you may experience:

• Flood of tears

• Redness

• Light shyness

• Pain

• Impaired vision to varying degrees

• Uneven and angular pupil if the condition remains untreated

Treatment

Iris inflammation is treated with prescription drugs obtained from a doctor. Anti-inflammatory eye drops containing cortisone are important to reduce the inflammatory reaction. In severe cases, it may also be necessary to give cortisone in the form of tablets.

In addition, eye drops can be given that will dilate the pupil. This is to prevent the iris from sticking to, and growing together with, the lens of the eye. These eye drops can also act as pain relievers. Wearing sunglasses can also prevent adhesions in the eye by keeping the pupil dilated to a certain extent.

It is generally important that the treatment regimen given by the doctor is carefully followed, as the right treatment in time is essential to prevent serious complications.

When should you contact a doctor for iris inflammation?

If you suspect that you have symptoms of iris inflammation, you should contact a doctor as soon as possible. In the worst case, the disease can cause serious consequences such as vision loss and blindness if it is not treated in time. The condition is often recurrent once you have had it once. If you notice that you are having a relapse, you should contact a doctor immediately so that treatment can be started as quickly as possible.

Sources: Felleskatalogen, Legevakthåndboken, Norwegian drug handbook, Norwegian health informatics, Store norske lexikon.