Eye diseases: what is iridocyclitis?

By Cristiano Antonino Last updated May 15, 2023

Inflammation of the iris and ciliary body is called iridocyclitis. It is an eye disorder that can cause a lot of pain in those affected and that requires urgent treatment if symptoms begin to appear

This condition can be marked by red eyes, pain, high sensitivity to light (photophobia), watery eyes and reduced vision.

If only one eye is affected, light shining on the other eye that does not have iridocyclitis can cause severe pain in the affected eye.

What are the different degrees of severity

Iridocyclitis can assume different severity depending on whether the inflammation involves only the iris, the anterior part of the ciliary body or both.

It is one of the most common inflammations of the eye.

It can be classified in two ways: acute, if the episode is single, or chronic, if it has lasted for more than three months.

It is the most common form of uveitis and one of the least threatening to vision.

However, in severe cases, it can lead to serious complications such as cataracts, glaucoma and cystoid macular edema.

These complications can be prevented if iridocyclitis is diagnosed and treated early.

Timely diagnosis is essential to identify specific ocular and systemic pathological conditions.

Causes of iridocyclitis

The job of the iris is to control and regulate the amount of light that enters the eye through the pupil, which is the dark circle inside the eye, acting like the diaphragm of a camera.

Right next to the iris is the ciliary body: this is a ring of muscle tissue that surrounds the lens of the eye.

Its job is to help control the shape of the lens and secrete aqueous humor, a fluid essential for the eye because it provides the nourishment needed to function.

The causes of anterior uveitis are sometimes linked to a specific pathology (as in the case of autoimmune diseases) other times it is not possible to determine them.

In still others, iridocyclitis occurs as a result of a serious injury, such as a blow to the eye or a deep wound to the eye.

Any condition that causes damage or inflammation to the iris or ciliary body can cause iridocyclitis

Among these we find:

Injuries and traumas
infections
autoimmune diseases such as arthritis

There are also some cases where no apparent cause is found for iridocyclitis.

Generally this is caused by traumatic events, foreign bodies in the eye, autoimmune diseases.

As for the injuries, these can be caused by trauma caused by a blunt object, a wound that penetrates the eye, or a burn caused by a chemical substance.

Fires can also cause iridocyclitis.

As for infections, these can be viral in nature such as herpes.

The most common and afflicting many people is cold sores.

Infectious diseases caused by bacteria can also be linked to iridocyclitis.

These include toxoplasmosis, histoplasmosis, tuberculosis and syphilis.

In other cases, iridocyclitis occurs due to a genetic predisposition

People who develop certain autoimmune diseases can develop an acute disorder.

Among these we find arthritis, but also diseases such as sarcoidosis, which involve the production of inflammatory cells in various areas of the body, including the eyes.

In rarer cases, iridocyclitis is caused by drugs (some of which are used to treat HIV infections): usually stopping these drugs stops the symptoms of iridocyclitis.

In general, the event that triggered this pathology is identified quite easily by the patient, especially in the case of trauma and injury, to which iridocyclitis is closely related.

Identifying the triggering event is essential for a diagnosis and treatment that will immediately eradicate this disorder and avoid complications that could jeopardize the functionality of the eye.

Symptoms and complications

Iridocyclitis can occur in one or both eyes.

It usually develops suddenly following one of the above causes and can last up to three months (chronic iridocyclitis).

Signs and symptoms of this disorder include:

eye redness
discomfort or tenderness in the affected eye
sensitivity to light
ache
loss of vision (in severe cases)

Iridocyclitis that develops suddenly, over a few days or even hours, is known as acute iridocyclitis.

Symptoms that develop gradually or last more than three months indicate a chronic condition.

To diagnose iridocyclitis, your eye doctor will conduct a comprehensive exam

This includes an external exam: the doctor uses a flashlight to look at the pupils, look at the red area in one or both eyes.

Then he will proceed to check the sharpness of the vision using standard tests that are used in such cases.

Using a slit lamp, he will then check the inside of the eye for signs of iridocyclitis.

He will then do an ophthalmoscopy to evaluate the posterior eye structures, usually using eye drops to dilate the pupil.

In order to facilitate the intervention of the attending physician, it is good to prepare yourself before the visit in order to make the diagnosis faster.

There are some precautions and some things that you can prepare before going to the ophthalmologist, so that the treatment can start as soon as possible.

It is therefore advisable to make a list of symptoms (even those that seem to have nothing to do with the vision problem) and note when they started.

Make a list of all medications, supplements, and vitamins you take, including doses and amounts.

It is also essential for the doctor to know the family’s medical history and information about the patient, including most recent traumas and injuries.

Obviously it must be communicated if a family member is affected by an autoimmune disease and what it is.

Inflammation is often accompanied by a decrease in vision and furthermore the use of mydriatic drugs to dilate the pupil will not allow a clear vision regardless: it is therefore good to take care before having a companion after having sustained the visit.

Therapy

Treatment of iridocyclitis is designed to preserve vision, relieve pain and inflammation.

If it is caused by a pre-existing condition, that condition must be treated for the treatment to be successful.

Iridocyclitis is treated with medications often in the form of eye drops:

cortisone eye drops often based on prednisone acetate
mydriatics which, by dilating the pupil, aim to reduce pain, putting the ciliary muscle at rest

If your symptoms do not go away and your iridocyclitis continues to get worse, your doctor may decide to change your treatment and switch to different forms of treatment.

One of these is the use of oral drugs, which change according to the general conditions and the severity of the pathology found in the patient.

Fortunately most of the cases in a few days after mainly local therapy.

It is very important to start treatment as soon as possible to avoid damage to vision.

For this reason it is essential that the diagnosis is timely and that as soon as the symptoms appear, the subject immediately goes to the ophthalmologist to begin treatment.

Prevention

Sometimes it is possible to adopt behaviors to prevent a particular pathology, in others you can try to be careful and keep it under control, or go to the doctor as soon as the symptoms begin to appear.

In the case of iridocyclitis, the possibility of developing it increases on several occasions.

These occur if there is a specific genetic alteration: it is advisable to carry out periodic checks if there is a family history of autoimmune pathologies.

What you can do is pay attention to the possible appearance of symptoms and go immediately to the doctor to prevent the situation from escalating and damage to your eyesight.

Smoking also increases the risk of iridocyclitis, so a healthier lifestyle helps reduce the chance of developing this disease.

In the case of injuries or traumas, in addition to being careful in behavior, it is advisable to go to the doctor immediately.

If treated early and not neglected, iridocyclitis can heal within days.

If the cause is an autoimmune disease, the possibility of recurrence is greater and quite frequent.

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