What To Expect When You're Diagnosed With Uveitis
Being diagnosed with uveitis can be alarming for you. This inflammatory condition is caused by your immune system attacking healthy cells, otherwise known as an autoimmune condition. With uveitis, the eyes, in particular, are targeted by the body and need special care as a result. Here's what you can expect when you have uveitis.
Regular Care
The first thing you should expect is that you're going to get to know an eye doctor very well. Regular eye exams are a must for someone with uveitis. These examinations allow the eye doctor to keep track of any abnormal cells in your eyes and to track inflammation.
Keeping up your regular appointments is a must. You'll likely be taking medication for treatment, and your eye doctor will need to know how your eyes are responding to treatment in order to ensure that it's working the way that it should.
Treatment
Most people with uveitis are given eye drops as a form of treatment. These eye drops typically contain medicine and steroids that help to bring down inflammation and stop the autoimmune response. How often you take them and how many you take will depend upon your personal health and how severe your uveitis is.
You should also expect to have your eyes dilated at the eye doctor's office on a fairly regular basis. This is also typically accomplished with eye drops or an eye gel. It helps the eye doctor to see more deeply into the eye, so they'll have a better idea of whether or not you're making good progress.
Outcome
Uveitis is a chronic condition. This means that once diagnosed, most people will need treatment for the rest of their lives to keep it controlled. The good news is, with regular treatment and eye care, this disorder can be controlled, and further damage to your eyes can be prevented.
In some cases, however, some people are lucky enough to have their uveitis go into remission. This means that while you may still have the genes for an autoimmune disorder, your body stops attacking its own cells, effectively meaning that you're cured. Even so, you'll want to keep visiting an eye doctor for exams to ensure that if the condition comes back, you can get it quickly treated before it hurts you.
Uveitis can be a scary diagnosis to get, but with the help of an eye care professional, you don't have to worry too much. Get your vision checked and start your treatment plan right away. For more information, contact your local eye exam services.