Uveitis and Ocular Immunology

Uveitis is inflammation inside the eye, involving the iris, the ciliary body, the vitreous, or the choroid and retina. It is a group of many conditions rather than one disease. About half of cases have no identifiable cause, while others are linked to autoimmune diseases, infections or, rarely, lymphoma. Ocular immunology also covers scleritis and inflammatory disease of the eye surface.

Uveitis tends to come and go or to persist for years, and it affects working-age people. Sight is lost mainly through complications, namely macular oedema, cataract, glaucoma and scarring, so the aim is complete control of inflammation with the lowest safe dose of treatment, usually in cooperation with a rheumatologist or other physician.

Bedingungen, die dieser Service betreut

• Acute anterior uveitis (iritis), often linked to HLA-B27 and ankylosing spondylitis
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis in children
• Behcet disease, which is relatively common in Türkiye and along the historic Silk Road
• Intermediate uveitis and pars planitis, sometimes associated with multiple sclerosis
• Sarcoidosis
• Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease and birdshot chorioretinopathy
• Infectious uveitis: toxoplasmosis, herpes viruses, tuberculosis, syphilis
• Scleritis, often associated with rheumatoid arthritis or vasculitis
• Masquerade syndromes such as intraocular lymphoma

Tests, die Ihnen möglicherweise angeboten werden

• Slit lamp and dilated examination: Grades cells and flare and locates the inflammation.
• OCT: Detects macular oedema, the commonest cause of visual loss.
• Fluorescein and ICG angiography: Show retinal vasculitis and choroidal involvement.
• Blood tests: Syphilis serology for everyone, plus HLA-B27, ACE, tuberculosis testing and others as the pattern suggests.
• Chest X-ray or CT: Looks for sarcoidosis or tuberculosis.
• Aqueous or vitreous sampling: PCR for viruses and toxoplasma, or cytology when lymphoma is suspected.
• Review by rheumatology or other physicians: For associated systemic disease.

Behandlungen verfügbar

• Steroid drops and pupil-dilating drops: The mainstay for anterior uveitis, tapered gradually over weeks.
• Steroid injections or implants around or inside the eye: For macular oedema or disease in one eye.
• Oral steroids: Rapid control of severe disease; not suitable as a long-term solution.
• Immunosuppressants: Methotrexate, mycophenolate, azathioprine or ciclosporin to spare steroids, with regular blood monitoring.
• Biologic therapy: Adalimumab and infliximab for refractory non-infectious uveitis, Behcet disease and childhood arthritis-related uveitis.
• Antimicrobial treatment: Specific therapy for infectious causes; steroids alone can be harmful in these.
• Surgery for complications: Cataract or glaucoma surgery, or vitrectomy, once the eye has been quiet for at least 3 months.

Wann Sie eine Fachmeinung einholen sollten

• A painful, red, light-sensitive eye with blurred vision, particularly if it recurs
• Floaters and blur in a quiet-looking eye
• A child with juvenile arthritis, who needs regular screening even with no symptoms
• Known Behcet disease, sarcoidosis, ankylosing spondylitis or inflammatory bowel disease with eye symptoms
• Uveitis that flares every time steroids are reduced
• Cataract developing in an eye with uveitis

Reisen nach Türkiye für diese Pflege

Active uveitis needs prompt treatment where you are, and immunosuppressive or biologic therapy needs blood tests and review every few weeks, so ongoing care cannot be run from abroad. What a visit can offer is a structured diagnostic work-up and second opinion for chronic or unexplained uveitis, drawing on considerable local experience with Behcet disease, and planned cataract surgery in a quiet eye with appropriate steroid cover. Bring all previous results, a drug history with doses, and the contact details of your treating doctors so that a shared plan can be written.

Senden Sie Ihre Berichte, Scans und eine kurze Geschichte und eine Clinic-Y Koordinator Antworten innerhalb von 24 Stunden mit geeigneten Teams und schriftlich, All-inclusive Vorschläge nebeneinander. Die Überprüfung Ihres Falls ist kostenlos.

Häufig gestellte Fragen