Eye Inflammation

Eye inflammation occurs when parts of the eye become swollen and irritated, causing symptoms like redness, pain, and vision problems. This common condition can affect anyone and may result from infections, immune system reactions, or injury, making early diagnosis and treatment essential to protect your sight.

Table of contents

• What is Eye Inflammation?
• The Eye Structures Involved
• Types of Eye Inflammation
• Signs and Symptoms
• What Causes Eye Inflammation
• Who Is at Risk?
• How Doctors Check for Eye Inflammation
• Treatment Options
• Protecting Your Eyes

What is Eye Inflammation?

Eye inflammation is swelling and irritation that occurs in different parts of your eye or the surrounding tissues. When your eye becomes inflamed, the affected area becomes red and swollen, often causing discomfort and changes in how well you can see^[1].

Inflammation usually happens when your immune system (your body’s defense system) responds to an infection or perceives a threat. Sometimes your immune system fights an actual eye infection, but other times it may mistakenly attack healthy tissue in your eyes^[4].

Eye inflammation can have many different causes, including allergens, trauma, immune conditions, lifestyle changes, or contact lens use^[5]. The symptoms are generally similar regardless of the cause and might include redness, swelling, itching, blurred vision, or eye pain^[5].

Without treatment, certain inflammatory eye conditions can become serious and lead to permanent vision loss^[6]. This is why it’s important to see your eye doctor right away if you experience symptoms.

The Eye Structures Involved

• Uvea (iris, ciliary body, and choroid)
• Conjunctiva
• Cornea
• Sclera
• Eyelids
• Optic nerve
• Retina

The uvea is the middle layer of your eye, located between the white part (sclera) and the inner layers. It contains three important structures^[1]:

• The iris, which is the colored circle at the front of your eye
• The ciliary body, a ring of tissue behind your iris that makes fluid and helps your lens focus
• The choroid, a group of blood vessels behind the iris and ciliary body that give your retina the nutrients it needs

There isn’t a lot of room inside your eyeball for tissue swelling to happen, so it’s easy for swelling to change your eye shape. Your eye shape is a critical part of how you see, and even tiny changes from swelling can disrupt your sight^[1].

Types of Eye Inflammation

Eye inflammation can affect different parts of your eye, and understanding which type you have helps guide treatment. The most common form is inflammation of the uvea, called uveitis^[4].

Uveitis Classification

Experts organize uveitis into different types based on which part of the eye is affected^[1]:

Anterior uveitis affects the iris and ciliary body at the front of your eye. It’s the most common type, making up about 80% of cases^[13]. The symptoms are often visible to you or others, and it’s usually less serious than other types^[4].

Intermediate uveitis affects the ciliary body and the gel-like fluid that fills your eye (vitreous)^[4]. Symptoms can last for a few weeks to many years, and this form can go through cycles of getting better, then getting worse^[4].

Posterior uveitis affects the retina and choroid at the back of your eye. This type is rare but poses a greater risk to your vision than anterior or intermediate uveitis^[13]. Symptoms can develop gradually and last for many years^[4].

Panuveitis affects all parts of the uvea, from the front to the back of the eye. It can come with all the symptoms and risks of inflammation throughout the eye and poses a significant risk to your vision^[13].

Other Forms of Eye Inflammation

Eye inflammation can also occur in other structures^[5]:

• Keratitis: inflammation of the cornea (the clear front surface of your eye)
• Conjunctivitis: inflammation of the conjunctiva (the transparent membrane covering the white part of your eye)
• Scleritis: inflammation of the sclera (the white outer layer of your eye)
• Optic neuritis: inflammation of the optic nerve
• Blepharitis: recurring inflammation in your eyelids

Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms of eye inflammation can vary depending on which area of your eye is affected. Symptoms often come on suddenly and get worse quickly, though in some cases they develop gradually^[2].

Common symptoms of eye inflammation include^[1][4]:

• Eye pain or discomfort
• Red eyes or eye irritation
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
• Swelling around the eye
• Floaters (small dark spots or squiggly lines that float across your vision)
• Decreased vision
• Itching or watering of the eyes

When inflammation affects the front of your eye, the symptoms are often visible to you or others. You may notice redness, swelling, or changes in your pupil shape^[1].

When inflammation affects the middle or back of your eye, symptoms are harder for you or those around you to see. Instead, the symptoms are more likely to affect what you see and how well you see it, such as an increase in floaters, gaps in your field of vision, or decreased vision^[1].

Sometimes there are no symptoms, and signs of inflammation are found only during a routine eye exam^[2].

What Causes Eye Inflammation

Eye inflammation can happen for many reasons. Between 50% and 70% of uveitis cases are idiopathic, meaning the cause isn’t something an eye care specialist can identify^[1].

Infections

Infections occur when germs enter your body and cause damage. Several types of germs can cause eye inflammation^[1]:

Viruses that can cause inflammation include herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus (which causes chickenpox and shingles), and cytomegalovirus. It can also happen with diseases that are vaccine-preventable, especially rubella^[1].

Bacteria that can cause inflammation include species that also cause syphilis and tuberculosis^[1].

Fungi that can cause inflammation include species from several subtypes, including Candida (candidiasis) and mold species like Aspergillus^[1].

Parasites can also trigger eye inflammation^[1].

Autoimmune and Systemic Diseases

Sometimes inflammation is caused by autoimmune diseases (conditions where your immune system attacks your own body)^[4]. These include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Lupus
• Sarcoidosis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Behcet’s disease
• Psoriasis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Ulcerative colitis
• Inflammatory bowel disease

Other Causes

Eye inflammation can also result from^[5][7]:

• Allergens (substances that trigger allergic reactions)
• Trauma or injury to the eye area
• Contact lens use or improper contact lens hygiene
• Environmental irritants such as smoke, smog, or chlorinated pool water
• Certain medications
• Cancers that can affect the eye, such as lymphoma

Who Is at Risk?

Anyone can get eye inflammation, but it’s most common in people ages 20 to 60^[4]. Uveitis is more common in adults, and the odds of having it go up with age. It’s less common in children, who make up only 2% to 20% of cases^[1].

You’re at higher risk for eye inflammation if you smoke cigarettes^[4].

Having certain health conditions also increases your risk. These include autoimmune disorders and conditions that affect your immune system^[4].

How Doctors Check for Eye Inflammation

Eye doctors can check for inflammation as part of a dilated eye exam. The exam is simple and painless—your doctor will give you some eye drops to dilate (widen) your pupil and then check your eyes for inflammation and other eye problems^[4].

During your visit, the eye specialist will likely do a complete eye exam and gather a thorough health history^[10]. The evaluation may include:

• Assessment of your vision and how your pupils respond to light
• A slit-lamp examination, which uses a microscope to magnify and illuminate the front of your eye
• Ophthalmoscopy, where your doctor examines the back of your eye after dilating your pupil

Your doctor will also ask about your medical history and may recommend some tests to see if you have an infection or another disease that can cause inflammation^[4]. Blood tests might be necessary to see if an infection or other condition is triggering the eye inflammation^[5].

Additional tests may include^[10]:

• Color photography of the inside of your eye
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging to detect swelling
• Imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRI scans
• Analysis of fluid from the eye

Treatment Options

Eye inflammation needs to be treated right away to prevent lasting problems^[4]. Early diagnosis and treatment are important to prevent complications and save your vision^[2].

Medications

Medicines called steroids can reduce inflammation in your eye. This can ease symptoms and prevent vision loss^[4]. Steroids are the most common way to treat inflammatory eye diseases^[6].

You may receive steroids in several different forms^[6]:

• Eye drops (the most common method)
• Pills taken by mouth
• Injections given with a small needle
• Surgical implants that release small doses over time

Your doctor may also use an eye drop to widen (dilate) the pupil, which helps reduce pain and swelling^[4].

Sometimes antibiotics, anti-viral medicine, or immunosuppressant therapy are used, depending on the cause of the inflammation^[5]. If the inflammation is caused by an infection, treating the underlying infection is essential.

Other Treatments

Your doctor might suggest you avoid wearing contact lenses for a period of time until your eyes heal^[4].

In some cases, surgery may be recommended to treat complications or if medications aren’t effective^[4]. Your doctor may also collaborate with other specialists, such as rheumatologists, infectious disease specialists, or pulmonologists, to address underlying conditions^[4].

Protecting Your Eyes

While you can’t always prevent eye inflammation, you can take steps to reduce your risk and protect your eye health^[7]:

• Practice good contact lens hygiene: wash your hands before touching your eyes and clean contact lenses properly
• Avoid sleeping in contact lenses unless prescribed by your doctor
• Use protective eyewear during sports, yard work, or DIY projects
• Manage chronic health conditions like diabetes or arthritis
• Avoid smoking and limit exposure to environmental irritants
• Stay hydrated and eat a nutrient-rich diet to support eye health
• Limit screen time and take regular breaks to reduce eye strain
• Schedule regular eye exams, especially if you have autoimmune conditions

If you’re taking steroids for eye inflammation, you’ll need to regularly see your eye doctor for follow-up exams^[4]. Seeking treatment early before serious complications arise can help save your vision^[4].