What is the meaning of sympathetic Ophthalmitis?

Sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) is a rare, bilateral, granulomatous uveitis caused by exposure of previously immune-privileged ocular antigens from trauma or surgery with a subsequent bilateral autoimmune response to this tissue.

How is sympathetic ophthalmia treated?

Prevention and treatment strategies for sympathetic ophthalmia are currently limited to two modalities, enucleation of the injured eye and immunosuppressive therapy, aimed at controlling inflammation. The etiology and pathophysiology of the disease is still unclear but is largely thought to be autoimmune in nature.

Are eyes sympathetic?

The healthy eye is called the “sympathizing eye” because it shows sympathy to the injured one and becomes inflamed. Sympathetic ophthalmia is vision-threatening if not treated quickly.

What is uvea eye?

The uvea is the middle layer of tissue in the wall of the eye. It consists of the iris, the ciliary body and the choroid. When you look at your eye in the mirror, you will see the white part of the eye (sclera) and the colored part of the eye (iris).

What medications can cause uveitis?

Topical ocular medications such as beta-blockers and corticosteroids as well as other topical ocular medications have been associated with uveitis. Cidofovir, pamidronic acid, sulfonamides, rifabutin and topical metipranolol can ‘probably’ cause uveitis.

Why is the eye immune privilege?

The eye has a special relationship with the immune system, known as immune privilege. The term was coined in the 1940s by Sir Peter Medawar, who noticed that foreign tissue grafts placed in the anterior chamber (AC) of the eye were not rejected [1].

Is Panuveitis serious?

Panuveitis: a serious inflammation of the uveal tract of the eye. The uveal tract includes the iris, the ciliary body, and the choroid. Panuveitis also typically involves the retina and the vitreous humor.

Is Panuveitis autoimmune?

SO is an autoimmune condition in which injury to one eye (exciting eye) causes sight-threatening inflammation in the otherwise normal contralateral eye (sympathizing eye). [65] It typically presents as bilateral granulomatous panuveitis. It is a rare disease with an incidence of 0.03/1,00,000.

What is uvea in the eye?

What does the uvea consist of?

The uvea has 3 main parts: (1) the choroid (the tissue layer filled with blood vessels); (2) the ciliary body (the ring of tissue that contains muscles that change the shape of the lens and makes the clear fluid that fills the space between the cornea and the iris; and (3) the iris (the colored part of the eye).