Most often, however, iritis appears by itself. The symptoms of iritis include light sensitivity, red eye, blurred vision, tearing, pain, and sometimes floaters. The pupil may appear smaller in the affected eye when compared to the normal pupil. Iritis is sometimes confused with conjunctivitis, a much less serious disorder of the clear outer lining of the eye. The secrets to the successful treatment of iritis are early detection and proper choice of medications.
Therapy consists of cortisone and dilating drops.
These medicines quell the inflammation and reduce the scarring that can occur. Persistent cases may require more intensive treatment, such as injections of cortisone into the soft tissues around the eye. These injections help to avoid the potential serious systemic side effects of large doses of oral cortisone. Other oral medications are being investigated to better understand their role in treating this disease. Aspirin may prove to be very helpful.