Did you know that several infectious diseases can cause uveitis? Among them, three viruses stand out as the main culprits: herpes simplex, varicella zoster, and cytomegalovirus. Although little known by the general population, uveitis can be serious and significantly affect eye health if not diagnosed and treated promptly. We discussed this with Alfredo Adán, an international expert in uveitis.
Uveitis of infectious origin
Uveitis is an inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye that includes the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. It can have a variety of causes: autoimmune diseases, trauma, or infections. Among the latter, the aforementioned viruses—herpes simplex, varicella zoster, and cytomegalovirus—play a prominent role. In fact, they are the most common cause of infectious uveitis.
How viral uveitis manifests
Depending on the location of the infection, these infections can cause uveitis of varying complexity:
– When they affect the anterior part of the eye, they usually present with inflammation and elevated intraocular pressure.
– When they affect the retina, the diagnosis becomes more complicated and the clinical picture is much more severe, potentially seriously compromising vision.
Alfredo Adán
“The only way to diagnose this type of uveitis is by taking a sample from the anterior chamber and performing a PCR test on aqueous humor. That's why it's key to be aware of the existence of this type of pathology.”
Symptoms and diagnosis of infectious uveitis
The most common symptoms of uveitis include eye pain, redness, sensitivity to light (photophobia), blurred vision, and, in some cases, the appearance of spots or floaters in the visual field. Its presentation can vary depending on the area of the eye affected and the severity of the condition.
Diagnosis requires a complete ophthalmological examination and, in cases of suspected infectious origin, specific tests such as aqueous humor sampling for PCR analysis, which allows for precise identification of the virus responsible and guidance on appropriate treatment.
Importance of early diagnosis
An early diagnosis allows for the earliest possible treatment, reducing the risk of complications and improving the patient’s visual prognosis. Delaying the evaluation of uveitis of possible viral origin can have irreversible consequences.
The challenges of uveitis
Although it is considered the “great unknown” in ophthalmology, uveitis affects approximately 47,000 people in Spain. Raising awareness about this condition is essential so that both patients and healthcare professionals can recognize its symptoms and seek specialist help in a timely manner.
Furthermore, Adán and part of our medical team, as members of the Clínic Barcelona, research this ocular inflammation. They conduct clinical and experimental studies of infectious and immune-mediated uveitis, as well as the application of new imaging techniques to study its risk factors, and conduct clinical trials of new drugs.
Alfredo Adán
