What causes Fuchs Heterochromic Iridocyclitis?

Causes. According to recent research, not a single theory is able to explain the cause fully. However current plausible theories include infection with Toxoplasma gondii, Herpes simplex virus, Rubella, neurogenic causes, and autoimmune pathology.

What is Fuchs Heterochromic?

Fuchs’ heterochromic cyclitis (FHC) is a chronic anterior segment inflammatory syndrome that accounts for 2 to 3% of all uveitis cases. The etiology is unknown, but Herpes simplex, ocular toxoplasmosis and rubella infection have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease.

What is Iridocyclitis?

Iridocyclitis (ear-ih-doh-sy-CLY-tis) is inflammation of the iris and ciliary body, structures in the middle layer of the eye (uvea).

Can uveitis cause Heterochromia?

Fuchs uveitis syndrome (FUS) is a chronic form of unilateral uveitis manifesting as heterochromia, a unique clinical presentation.

How do you treat Fuchs Heterochromic Iridocyclitis?

Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis is generally chronic. Although therapy with topical corticosteroids can reduce the clinical signs of inflammation, long-term topical therapy is often unnecessary and may serve only to hasten cataract formation and induce glaucoma in responders to steroid therapy.

What causes Iridocyclitis?

Sometimes, it’s tied to eye trauma or other health conditions. Causes of iritis may include: Injury from burns, punctures, or strikes with a blunt object. Conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter syndrome, sarcoidosis, inflammatory bowel disease, Behcet’s disease, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis.

How common is Fuchs dystrophy?

The late-onset form of Fuchs endothelial dystrophy is a common condition, affecting approximately 4 percent of people over the age of 40 in the United States. The early-onset variant of Fuchs endothelial dystrophy is rare, although the exact prevalence is unknown.

Is Iridocyclitis serious?

Iritis is the most common type of uveitis and generally occurs in healthy people. It can affect one eye, or it may affect both eyes at once. Iritis is usually the least serious type of uveitis.

How is Iridocyclitis treated?

Most often, treatment for iritis involves:

  1. Steroid eyedrops. Glucocorticoid medications, given as eyedrops, reduce inflammation.
  2. Dilating eyedrops. Eyedrops used to dilate your pupil can reduce the pain of iritis. Dilating eyedrops also protect you from developing complications that interfere with your pupil’s function.

Can you go blind from Fuchs?

Fuchs dystrophy gets worse over time. Without a corneal transplant, a person with severe Fuchs dystrophy may become blind or have severe pain and very reduced vision. Mild cases of Fuchs dystrophy often worsen after cataract surgery.

Should I have cataract surgery if I have Fuchs dystrophy?

Any intraocular surgery such as cataract surgery will further reduce the number of endothelial corneal cells in a patient with Fuchs’ dystrophy. If the Fuchs’ dystrophy is still in its early stages and there is sufficient endothelial cell reserve, the patient can proceed with cataract surgery alone.

How is iridocyclitis treated?