Uveitis (Iritis)

Definition:  Inflammation in the iris or uvea of the eye.   

Signs/Symptoms:  

• Pain
• Red eye
• Photophobia
• Reduced vision
• Tearing
• Cells in the aqueous or anterior chamber of the eye (viewed under a slit lamp)

Differential Diagnosis:

• Trauma
• Idiopathic
• Corneal abrasion
• Inflammatory diseases (Reiter’s )
• Medication
• Contact lens
• Retinal detachment

Causes:  Generally in an operational setting, trauma (blunt, abrasion, contact lens) is the most common cause

Evaluation:

• History
• Visual acuity
• Examination of the anterior segment of the eye

Treatment:

• Cycloplegia with scopolamine ¼% or cyclopentolate 1% 4 times a day
• Oral analgesics for pain if severe enough. 
• Reevaluate patient daily checking visual acuity

Prognosis:

• Generally very good. 
• Some iritis can become chronic over time.  If patient develops additional symptoms during the operational tour, institute conservative therapy outlined and refer to ophthalmology on return

This section provided by CAPT Robert B. North, Jr., MC, USN

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*This web version is provided by The Brookside Associates, LLC.  It contains original contents from the official US Navy NAVMED P-5139, but has been reformatted for web access and includes advertising and links that were not present in the original version. The medical information presented was reviewed and felt to be accurate in 2001. Medical knowledge and practice methods may have changed since that time. Some links may no longer be active. This web version has not been approved by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense. The presence of any advertising on these pages does not constitute an endorsement of that product or service by either the US Department of Defense or the Brookside Associates. The Brookside Associates is a private organization, not affiliated with the United States Department of Defense.

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