Your Eyes and Iritis
Your Eyes and Iritis
The iris is a circular, pigmented membrane that provides the eye its color and the opening in the center is the pupil of the eye.
The iris is made up of muscular fibers that control the amount of light entering the pupil so that you can see clearly. The iris accomplishes this task by making the pupil smaller in bright light and larger in dim light.
Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye) and Pinguecula
Pterygium (pronounced tur-IJ-ee-um) is a common eye condition that affects people who spend a lot of time outdoors. Because it often affects surfers, it is also known as surfer's eye. It can affect anyone, though, even children who don’t wear sunglasses outside.People with pterygium have a growth of pink, fleshy tissue on the white of the eye. The growth usually forms on the side closest to the nose and grows toward the center of the eye.Pterygium is a noncancerous lesion that usually grows slowly...
Read the Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye) and Pinguecula article > >
In some people, the iris can become inflamed. This is termed iritis.
Iritis may be a consequence of trauma (traumatic iritis) or nontraumatic causes:
In a large number of cases, no cause for iritis is found.
Iritis usually develops quickly and generally affects only one eye. Signs and symptoms may include any or all of the following:
Notify your eye doctor if any of the following signs or symptoms of iritis are present:
If you cannot reach your eye doctor, then seek medical attention at a hospital's emergency department.
If you've been diagnosed with iritis, these are questions you may want to ask your doctor:
Your Eyes and Iritis
In this article
- Iritis Overview
- Iritis Causes
- Iritis Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care for Iritis
- Questions to Ask the Doctor About Iritis
- Iritis Exams and Tests
- Iritis Treatment at Home
- Medical Treatment of Iritis
- Drugs to Treat Iritis
- Follow-Up Care for Iritis
- Outlook for Iritis
Iritis Overview
The iris is a circular, pigmented membrane that provides the eye its color and the opening in the center is the pupil of the eye.
The iris is made up of muscular fibers that control the amount of light entering the pupil so that you can see clearly. The iris accomplishes this task by making the pupil smaller in bright light and larger in dim light.
Recommended Related to Eye Health
Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye) and Pinguecula
Pterygium (pronounced tur-IJ-ee-um) is a common eye condition that affects people who spend a lot of time outdoors. Because it often affects surfers, it is also known as surfer's eye. It can affect anyone, though, even children who don’t wear sunglasses outside.People with pterygium have a growth of pink, fleshy tissue on the white of the eye. The growth usually forms on the side closest to the nose and grows toward the center of the eye.Pterygium is a noncancerous lesion that usually grows slowly...
Read the Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye) and Pinguecula article > >
In some people, the iris can become inflamed. This is termed iritis.
Iritis Causes
Iritis may be a consequence of trauma (traumatic iritis) or nontraumatic causes:
- Blunt trauma to the eye can cause traumatic inflammation of the iris.
- Nontraumatic iritis is frequently associated with certain diseases, such as ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter syndrome, sarcoidosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis.
- Infectious causes may include Lyme disease, tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, and herpes simplex and herpes zoster viruses.
In a large number of cases, no cause for iritis is found.
Iritis Symptoms
Iritis usually develops quickly and generally affects only one eye. Signs and symptoms may include any or all of the following:
- Pain in the eye or brow region
- Worsened eye pain when exposed to bright light
- Reddened eye, especially adjacent to the iris
- Small or funny shaped pupil
- Blurred vision
- Headache
When to Seek Medical Care for Iritis
Notify your eye doctor if any of the following signs or symptoms of iritis are present:
- Eye pain, including pain associated with bright light
- Blurred vision
- Redness in the eye, especially near the iris
If you cannot reach your eye doctor, then seek medical attention at a hospital's emergency department.
Questions to Ask the Doctor About Iritis
If you've been diagnosed with iritis, these are questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Are there any signs of permanent damage to the eye?
- Are there any signs of permanent vision loss?
- What should I expect as my eye heals?
- What symptoms should I call you about between visits?
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