Iritis

Inflammation of the iris is known as “Iritis;” the iris is the circular, colored part of the eye with the dark pupil in the center. Made up of muscular fibers, the iris controls how much light is let into the pupil, allowing us to see clearly. The iris will make the pupil smaller in bright light and larger in dim light. Inflammation of the front part of the iris is called “anterior iritis,” and inflammation behind the iris is known as “posterior iritis.”

Causes of Iritis

Inflammation of the iris may be caused by traumatic or non-traumatic factors. In some cases, the cause of iritis is never determined. The following are some of the more common causes of iritis:

Blunt trauma to the eye
Systemic diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), psoriasis and sarcoidosis, for example
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
Infections such as Lyme disease, herpes simplex, toxoplasmosis, and syphilis

Symptoms of Iritis

The symptoms of iritis will vary depending on the cause, but signs and symptoms may include:

Pain in the eye or above the eye in the eyebrow area; pain worsens in bright light
Red eyes
Blurry vision
Headache
Irregularly shaped pupil in the affected eye
Increase in tear production

If left untreated, these symptoms will progress, and the iritis can result in glaucoma and/or cataracts (and maybe even loss of vision).

Treatment for Iritis

Iritis is an eye infection that requires prescription medications either in the form of drops, pills or some combination of the two to be determined by your eye doctor. In order to eliminate the infection from the iris, you must follow the doctor’s instructions to the letter and wear dark glasses to avoid painful exposure to sun light while you treat the infection. Over-the-counter analgesics such as Advil and Tylenol may help with the discomfort while you heal.

To learn more about iritis, scleritis, keratitis or conjunctivitis, please contact an experienced eye doctor in your area today.