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Uveitis- Why the Urgency?

Uveitis is a severe ocular inflammatory disorder that can lead to blindness. Uveitis tends to be a chronic severe disease and result in many complications such as cornea damage, cataracts, elevated eye pressure (IOP), glaucoma, swelling of the retina, retinal detachment, and optic nerve damage. Therefore treatment for uveitis is an urgent matter.

Prevalence

According to the national eye institute, the uveitis effect causes 30,000 vision losses per year in the United States. It primarily affects people ages 20-60, men and women equally- people in the prime of their life. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent complications. These complications can result in permanent vision loss.

What is Uveitis?

Uveitis is the inflammation of the uvea, consisting of 3 parts: iris, ciliary body, and choroid. It is an abnormality of the autoimmune system. It is also a systemic disease.

Why TheraLife Autoimmune?

TheraLife Autoimmune is a patented formula to address the fundamental root causes of inflammation in autoimmune eye diseases. These diseases include Sjogren’s, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ocular Rosacea, Uveitis, and more.

To learn more, click here.

TheraLife Eye capsules can be used during steroid or immuno-suppressant drug treatments or used during remission to prevent a recurrence.

To learn more about how TheraLife Eye works. Click here

Recurrence

Uveitis affecting the back of your eye tends to heal more slowly, so more prolonged treatment is necessary. The time for a response to treatment, how long a flare-up lasts, and how vision is affected in the short and long term varies from person to person.

High-Risk Factor – HLA- B27

HLA B27 is predominantly in males. This marker exists on the surface of white blood cells. An HLA -B27 test is a blood test that identifies HLA-B27 proteins. HLA B27 is a genetic marker correlated with human inflammatory disease. The first correlation was with ankylosing spondylitis – inflammation of the bones in your spine.

Other diseases associated with HLA-B27

More than 100 diseases are associated with this gene marker, including eye diseases and systemic disease with specific ocular (eye) manifestations. These eye conditions include reactive arthritis (Reiter’s Syndrome), inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriatic arthritis.

In ophthalmology, HLA associations are strongest in diseases of the uvea. Of the people with uveitis, the majority have an HLA B27 marker.

Your eye doctor may order the HLA- B 27 test plus other autoimmune diseases markers to monitor your disease progression.

Causes

Uveitis is very common amongst people with autoimmune diseases:

1. Autoimmune diseases – including Ankylosing Spondylitis (inflammation of the bones in your spine), Reactive Arthritis – inflammation of joints, urethra, and eyes, sometimes lesions on your skin Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis suffers from swollen joints. The impact on the eyes is uveitis.

2. Infections – Herpes virus, syphilis, toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis,
3. Medication side effects
4. Eye injury or eye surgery
5. Cancer
6. HLA- B27 – genetic marker. See more information above.
7. Cigarette smoking
8. Multiple Sclerosis – affect mostly females, Caucasians.
9. Acute anterior Uveitis (AAU) is associated with a group of autoimmune rheumatic diseases called Seronegative Spondyloarthropathies. These people do not have circulating rheumatoid factors, therefore called Seronegative.

Uveitis Treatments

Your eye doctor will employ dilated eye exam and prescribe the proper treatment to control your immune system and prevent vision loss.

Steroid treatment

Your eye doctor can treat uveitis with steroid medicine. Prednisolone is usually used for uveitis patients to control the immune system and reduce eye inflammation.

Steroids work by disrupting the normal function of the immune system, so they no longer release the chemicals that cause inflammation.

Steroid medicines come in different forms. The type used will often depend on the areas of your eye affected by uveitis.

Steroid eye drops can increase your intraocular pressure resulting in glaucoma, weight gain, insomnia. And affect liver enzymes.

Steroid treatment is the first line of defense for uveitis. Eye doctors use steroid injections, strong anti-inflammatory drugs, and immunosuppressive therapy to control uveitis.

• Steroid eye drops to reduce eye inflammation. Steroids cause an increase in IOP and cataracts; long-term use may cause potential liver and kidney damage.
• Dilating eye drops to reduce eye pain
• Oral steroid medications
• Drugs to control spasm
• Drugs to treat infections

Immunosuppressive Drugs

• Drugs to suppress the immune system (immunosuppressive therapy) include Humira, Cellcept., methotrexate treatment.

Eye Surgery

• Surgical vitrectomy – rarely used.
• Surgical implants release drugs slowly into the eyes.

If you have anterior uveitis, your eye doctor will prescribe pupil-dilating eye drops and steroids to reduce pain. You may also be using eye drops to lower your intraocular pressure if you develop high eye pressure (Glaucoma) due to uveitis. It is well known that glaucoma drops result in chronic dry eyes. 

Types of Uveitis

There are several types – with varying severity.

• Iritis (anterior) uveitis.- affects the front of your eye and is the most common.
• Cystitis – intermediate uveitis- affects the ciliary body
• Choroiditis and retinitis– posterior uveitis affects the back of the eye. The choroid is between the retina and sclera (the white part of your eye).

What part of your eye is your uveitis involved?

The retina is at the inside wall of the eye.

The uvea provides blood flow to the deep layers of the retina.

The type of uveitis you have depends on which part or parts of the eye are inflamed.

Diffuse uveitis – all three layers are inflamed.

In any of these conditions, the jelly-like material in the center of your eye (vitreous) can become inflamed and infiltrated with inflammatory cells.

Symptoms

Typical symptoms of uveitis include, but are not limited to:

• Light sensitivity- photophobia
• Decreased visual acuity – blurry vision
• Eye pain when looking at a bright light.
• Red Eyes
• Floaters

Speed of progression

Symptoms may occur suddenly and get worse quickly. Though in some cases, they develop gradually. They may affect one or both eyes.

Intermediate and posterior uveitis usually are painless. Symptoms for these types of uveitis include blurred vision and floaters in both eyes. Most people who develop intermediate uveitis are in their teens, ’20s, or ’30s.

Diagnosis

Your eye doctor orders many tests for their uveitis patients, such as autoimmune diseases, inflammation, kidney and liver functions, dry eyes, and more.

The tests may include the HLA-B27 antigen test mentioned above.

Complications

The most severe complication of uveitis is vision loss. Thus treatment of uveitis is urgent.

• Retina swelling
• Retina scaring
• Glaucoma
• Cataract
• Optic nerve damage
• Retina detachment
• Vision Loss – blindness

Can Uveitis Be Cured?

No, there is no cure for Uveitis. Treatment can only suppress the harmful inflammation until your own body’s healing process stops the progression.

The treatment needs to continue as long as the inflammation is active.

Prevention

It is not much you can do to prevent uveitis. If you have an autoimmune condition, take your medicines as prescribed to help prevent uveitis.

How TheraLife help with the prevention

Taking TheraLife Eye Autoimmune formula will help you reduce inflammation, relieve dry eyes naturally, and prevent a recurrence.  

Theralife is your natural alternative to manage uveitis. 

What is the difference between anterior and posterior uveitis

Uveitis is the inflammation of the uveal tract—the iris, ciliary body, and choroid.

Anterior uveitis

The inflammation of the anterior segment characterizes anterior uveitis. Intermediate uveitis is the inflammation of the vitreous cavity and pars plana. The pars plana is a narrow section of the ciliary body, inflammation known as pars planitis.

In association with the inflammation or immunological response, fluid and cells infiltrate the clear gelatin-like substance (vitreous humor) of the eyeball near the retina and pars plana.

Posterior uveitis

Posterior uveitis involves the retina and choroid.

Panuveitis

Inflammation in panuveitis includes all layers.

While anterior uveitis often causes eye pain and redness,

light sensitivity, and blurred vision, the symptoms of posterior uveitis are more subtle.

Uveitis can lead to other complications, including glaucoma, cataracts, or retinal detachment.

Prognosis

In most cases, the prognosis of uveitis is good, assuming early detection and proper treatment. While most patients will develop an ocular complication, appropriate medicine and surgery, if needed, make permanent vision loss much less likely.

Identifying the underlying cause of uveitis is also essential due to significant morbidity

and mortality associated with some specific systemic diseases that can cause uveitis.

Complications

It is crucial to solidify an accurate diagnosis before starting

treatment and establish a follow-up plan.

Topical corticosteroids are the standard treatment for anterior uveitis. However, they can increase intraocular pressure (IOP). Consequently, the patient must have ophthalmology follow

up to monitor for resolution and to monitor IOP.

Prolonged or undertreated intraocular inflammation can lead to pathological changes in the eye resulting in permanent vision loss. These complications include cataracts, posterior synechiae, epiretinal membrane (ERM), cystoid macular edema (CME), band keratopathy, hypotony, glaucoma, and optic nerve edema.

We can treat anterior chamber inflammation with topical steroids. Other forms of inflammation should never be treated with intraocular, periocular, or oral steroids unless infectious etiologies have been ruled out. Detailed dilated eye exam and laboratory evaluations can determine the correct treatment modality. Intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis should be referred to ophthalmologists, preferably uveitis specialists, when possible, for further assessment and treatment.

Testimonial

Uveitis, Reactive Arthritis – Relief by TheraLife Eye Autoimmune

I was diagnosed with Reactive Arthritis that affected my joints and eyes. I ended up with a very severe case of uveitis. My eyes were red, swollen, and very painful. I was treated with steroids which caused Cataracts, Glaucoma, and Chronic Dry Eyes.

I was on Restasis, had permanent eye plugs, and my eyes were still dry and red. I found TheraLife online and tried the TheraLife Autoimmune therapy with the Fish Oil.

After about two months, my eyes and life became much better. I have been faithfully taking TheraLife Eye for about 2 1/2 years now, and I honestly don’t know what I would do without this oral eye therapy.

Thank you for making such a great product.

Cheers,

V.V. Canada

• Results May Vary

References

• https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1201027-overview-

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1117601/

• https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003551.htm

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·  Babu BM, Rathinam SR (Jan–Feb 2010). “Intermediate uveitis”. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology. 58 (1): 21–7. doi:10.4103/0301-4738.58469. PMC 2841370. PMID 20029143.

·  Table 5-7 in: Mitchell RS, Kumar V, Abbas AK, Fausto N (2007). Robbins Basic Pathology (8th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders. ISBN 978-1-4160-2973-1.

·  Larson T, Nussenblatt RB, Sen HN (June 2011). “Emerging drugs for uveitis”. Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs. 16 (2): 309–22. doi:10.1517/14728214.2011.537824. PMC 3102121. PMID 21210752.

· Shah IA, Zuberi BF, Sangi SA, Abbasi SA (1999). “Systemic Manifestations of Iridocyclitis”. Pak J Ophthalmol. 15 (2): 61–64.

·  “Zika Can Also Strike Eyes of Adults: Report”. Consumer HealthDay. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2018.

· White G. “Uveitis.” Archived 2013-08-23 at the Wayback Machine AllAboutVision.com. Retrieved August 20, 2006.

· McGonagle D, McDermott MF (August 2006). “A proposed classification of the immunological diseases”. PLoS Medicine. 3 (8): e297. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0030297. PMC 1564298. PMID 16942393.

· CDC: Department of Human Services (9 September 1994). “Uveitis Associated with Rifabutin Therapy”. 43(35);658: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Archived from the original on 18 October 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2013.

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