DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am having yet another bout of iritis, with accompanying pain and sensitivity to light. This always seems to happen when I am away from home and cannot see my own doctor. I have been treated with steroid eye drops in the past but wonder if there is anything you can recommend instead.

DEAR READER:
Uveitis is inflammation and swelling of the uvea, the layer of the eye between the retina and sclera. One of the most common forms is anterior uveitis that involves the front portion of the eye and is limited to the iris. Thus, the name iritis.
Most attacks are mild, symptoms last from a few days to several weeks with treatment and the bouts are prone to recurrence.

Common symptoms are pain, swelling, tearing, and photophobia (light sensitivity). Severe cases can also include blurred vision. [Read more...]