Iritis is the inflammation of the iris, the colored part of the eye. The iris is a circular muscle near the front of the eye that controls the amount of light that enters through the pupil. The iris is located just behind the cornea in front of the focusing lens. We must have the right amount of light in order for us to see properly. The iris controls the amount of light that enters the eye by contracting when there is too much light which make our pupil smaller and expanding in dim light which makes our pupil larger and lets in more light.

Iritis is a common eye problem that usually responds well to treatment but can threaten vision if neglected. It often occurs in response to another disease or infection in the body. Diseases such as arthritis, tuberculoses, or syphilis can trigger iritits and so can infections of some body parts such as tonsils, sinus, kidney, gallbladder and teeth. Sometimes iritis occurs after an injury to the eye, but often the exact cause is unknown.

The symptoms usually appear suddenly and develop rapidly over a few hours or days. The symptoms are pain, tearing, sensitivity to light and blurred vision. Some people see floaters (specks or dots in their field of vision) the eye can be red and the affected pupil can be smaller than normal.

A diagnosis is made based on the results of a complete eye examination. The slit lamp, a instrument that illuminates and magnifies the structures of the eye is often used to detect any inflammation. Since this disease can be linked to so many others a patient may have to have a complete physical evaluation in order to obtain proper diagnosis and treatment.

Treatment varies according to the underlying cause of the inflammation. It can range from eye drops and ointment to antibiotics injections and steroids depending on the severity of the condition. The typical case lasts 6 to 8 weeks. The patient has to be carefully monitored during the entire period to guard against potential complications such as cataracts, glaucoma, corneal changes and secondary inflammation of the retina that can be caused by iritis or the medicines used to treat it.

If you have any of the symptoms of iritis you should see an optometrist promptly to obtain a complete eye exam.