Pan Uveitis / Diffuse Uveitis
Pan uveitis is the inflammation of all areas of the uvea, i.e., iris, ciliary body and the choroid. It covers a large group of diverse diseases, which affect not only the uvea but also the retina and vitreous humor.
Characteristics of Pan Uveitis
- Is a serious disease
- Has a combination of symptoms of all types of uveitis
- Affects mainly Asian, Hispanic or American–Indian heritage
- Is bilateral and granulomatous
Causes of Pan Uveitis
Although most of the cases of pan uveitis have no known cause and others may be due to any of the following:
- Infection
- Intraocular surgery
- Eye trauma
- Chronic inflammatory diseases
- Sarcoidosis
- Tuberculosis
- Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome
- Sympathetic ophthalmia
- Behcet’s disease
Symptoms of Pan Uveitis
Pan uveitis generally shows mixed symptoms of all the forms of uveitis and patient typically complains of the following:
- Visual disturbance
- Eye pain
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Seeing spots
Diagnosis of Pan Uveitis
Diagnosis of pan uveitis requires a stepwise approach so as to identify and treat the disease timely and correctly. In addition to thorough, slit lamp and ophthalmoscopic examination of the eye, systemic tests of suspected disorders should also be performed to have a clear picture of the eye disorder and its associated diseases.
Treatment of Pan Uveitis
Treatment involves symptom relief and management of the underlying cause of the inflammation and includes drugs like:
- Corticosteroids (usually topical)
- Cycloplegic-mydriatic drugs
- Immunosuppressive agents
Complications of Pan Uveitis
Like other forms of uveitis, if pan uveitis is left untreated or under treated, serious complications may rise including:
- Cataract
- Glaucoma
- Retinal detachment
- Neovascularization of the retina, optic nerve, or iris
- Cystoid macular edema
- Profound and irreversible vision loss
