Iritis, otherwise known as anterior uveitis, is the swelling and inflammation of the iris. The iris is the colored ring located in the anterior of our eye’s uvea or the middle layer of the eye that links the retina and the white part of the eye.
The cause of iritis is still unknown. In some cases, however, such eye disorder is linked to eye trauma, genetic factors, and certain diseases.
Factors that contribute to developing iritis are as follows:
- Blunt force trauma injury
- Viral infections on the face like cold sores and shingles
- Genetic predisposition and medical conditions such as arthritis
- Behcet’s disease, which is characterized by joint problems, mouth sores, and genital sores
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which is common in children
- Sarcoidosis or the accumulation of inflammatory cells in different parts of your body, including your eyes
- Certain medications such as antibiotics and antiviral drugs.
If iritis is left untreated, it could lead to glaucoma or vision loss.
