Eye Health Center

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Iritis

Iritis Overview

The iris is a circular, pigmented membrane that provides the eye its color and forms the pupil of the eye.

The iris is made up of muscular fibers that control the amount of light entering the pupil so that we can see clearly. The iris accomplishes this task by making the pupil smaller in bright light and larger in dim light.

In some people, the iris can become inflamed. This is termed iritis.

Iritis Causes

Iritis may be a consequence of trauma (traumatic iritis) or nontraumatic causes. In a significant number of cases, no cause for the iritis is found.

Blunt trauma to the eye can cause traumatic inflammation of the iris.
Nontraumatic iritis is frequently associated with certain diseases, such as ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter syndrome, sarcoidosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis.
Infectious causes may include Lyme disease, tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, and herpes simplex and herpes zoster viruses.

Iritis Symptoms

Iritis usually develops quickly and generally affects only one eye. Signs and symptoms may include any or all of the following:

Pain in the eye or brow region
Worsened eye pain when exposed to bright light
Reddened eye, especially adjacent to the iris
Small or funny shaped pupil
Blurred vision
Headache

When to Seek Medical Care

Notify your ophthalmologist (a medical doctor who specializes in eye care and surgery) if any of the following signs or symptoms are present:

Eye pain, including pain associated with bright light
Blurred vision
Redness in the eye, especially around the iris

If you cannot reach your ophthalmologist, then seek medical attention at a hospital's emergency department.

Questions to Ask the Doctor

Are there any signs of permanent damage to the eye?

Are there any signs of permanent vision loss?

Exams and Tests

The diagnosis of iritis is confirmed by examining the eye with a slit lamp (a special microscope designed for eye examination). Your ophthalmologist can see cells (white blood cells) and flare (particles of protein) in the aqueous humor (fluid that is produced in the eye).

Two other physical examination findings aid your ophthalmologist in diagnosing iritis.

Topical anesthetics do not relieve the pain associated with iritis.
Shining light in the normal, unaffected eye causes pain in the affected eye if iritis is present. This is because shining light in one eye causes both pupils to constrict. So, movement of the affected iris causes pain.

Iritis Treatment Self-Care at Home

Iritis requires prescription medications and follow-up visits with an ophthalmologist, so seeking medical care is very important.

Use prescription medications exactly as prescribed.
Wear dark glasses if light worsens your eye pain.
Take mild analgesics, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), to help control some of the discomfort.