Eye Inflammation: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Blepharitis is a chronic irritation of the eyelids that cause redness and matting of the eyelids. It is basically an inflammation of the eyelid that affects the eyelashes and can also influence production of tears. On the other hand, uveitis is the inflammation of the uvea- the middle layer of the eye that consists of iris, ciliary body and choroid. There are different types of uveitis depending on where the inflammation occurs in the uvea. When inflammation of the iris or iris and ciliary body occurs, it is called anterior uveitis. When inflammation occurs in ciliary body, it is intermediate uveitis. Posterior uveitis and diffuse uveitis occur due to inflammation of the choroid and all parts of the uvea respectively.

If a doctor diagnoses you with uveitis, he or she is most likely to prescribe you with a steroid so as to reduce the inflammation in the eyes. The steroid can be in the form of eye drops, a pill or an injection depending on which part of the eye has been affected by inflammation. Iritis is normally treated with eye drops as it affects the front of the eye. On the contrary, posterior uveitis is normally treated with tablets and injections.

Blepharitis, in its mild form, can be treated by washing eyes and applying a warm compression. However, doctors may recommend steroid treatment or a course of antibiotics to effectively treat eyelid infections. In other cases, doctors may recommend immunosupressives that dampen the immune system. Using them in combination with corticosteroids may prove to be beneficial.

Different types of drugs are mostly used for the treatment of inflammation in the eyes. Blepharitis or inflammation of the eyelids is treated with warm compresses and lid scrubs. This helps to reduce the amount of bacteria and Demodex mites on the lids. Different types of cleaning agents like prescription eyelid cleansers, non-prescription eyelid cleansing pads or diluted baby shampoo can be used. Different in-house procedures like electromechanical lid margin debridement, thermal pulsation treatment and intense pulsed light therapy can be used to treat inflammation of the eyelids.

Doctors generally recommend eye drops containing corticosteroid to fight uveitis and resultant inflammation. A doctor may recommend a pill or an injection if the drops do not work. Anterior uveitis requires eye drops at first. Intermediate, posterior or pan-uveitis is generally treated with injections, oral medications or immunosuppressive drugs. In some other cases, a doctor may also perform a surgery to remove the gel-like substance from the affected eye.

Iritis is treated by using a drug to dilate the pupil and to prevent spasm of the iris muscles so that the inflamed iris is not harmed. Mostly eye-drops are used to treat iritis and it helps to decrease the pain in the eye and to eventually address the inflammation. However, if the inflammation is not treated by this method, a doctor may recommend steroid pills or inject steroids around the affected eye.

Those people who have been diagnosed with inflammation in the eyelids, iris or the uvea by a registered medical practitioner are eligible for treatment. Thus, some of the symptoms that help to understand whether a person is suffering from blepharitis or not are: burning or stinging eyes, watery and irritated eyes, itchy eyelids, crusty debris or dandruff at the base of eyelashes and grittiness or foreign body sensation. If a person is suffering from some or all of these symptoms, he should go to a doctor and find out if he/she has blepharitis or not. Only after due medical advice can a person receive treatment for blepharitis.

Similarly, a person can be eligible for treatment for iritis if he/she experiences eye pain, including pain when exposed to bright light or if he/she is having problems with his/her vision or if there is redness near the iris of the eye. A doctor’s recommendation is required nonetheless.

The symptoms of uveitis may include light sensitivity, red eyes, pain in the eyes or problems with the vision. Thus if a doctor diagnoses that someone is suffering from uveitis, he/she should undertake the required treatment.

A person not suffering from the inflammation of the eyelids or uvea is not eligible to undergo treatment for eye inflammation. A person is not eligible if he/she has not been diagnosed to be suffering from blepharitis or uveitis by a registered medical practitioner.

The treatment of inflammation of the eyes generally require intake of drugs containing steroids and immunosupressants. Steroids and immunosupressants have a number of serious side effects on our body like kidney damage, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, glaucoma and osteoporosis. Other side effects of steroid use are weight gain, mood swings, weakness of muscles, lower resistance to infection, acne, swollen face, stomach irritation and worsening of diabetes due to increase of blood sugar levels. One may also experience nervousness, sleeping disorders, excess water retention in the body and increased growth of body hair. However, not everyone on steroids will develop side-effects.

If a person had undergone treatment for blepharitis and he/she wears reusable contact lenses, he/she can switch daily disposable contacts or gas permeable contacts which will lower risks of a person contracting blepharitis again. Sometimes doctors may recommend people who have the risks of having recurrent iritis to keep steroid eye drops in hand.

It takes a long time to cure blepharitis as it is a chronic condition. The condition may persist for months or even years. Medications help a person affected with this ailment to deal with the symptoms and, at best, to manage the condition.

The cost of eye-drops to treat eye inflammation varies between Rs 18 - Rs 3000.

Blepharitis or uveitis can be treated with the help of a number of drugs. The inflammation, however, is caused by a toxic substance entering the eye or a bruise to an eye. Uveitis can also be caused by an auto-immune disease, which implies that the body is attacking itself. So it is not possible to find a permanent solution to conditions like blepharitis or uveitis.

A warm black tea-bag when applied to the affected eye helps to deal with the symptoms of blepharitis. Blepharitis may be caused by dandruff. So, coconut oils, essential oils and probiotics may be used to remove dandruff. Another easy way to deal with blepharitis is to keep blinking. This is because blinking helps the meibomian glands to secrete oil which helps to prevent any blockage or abnormality that may cause blepharitis.