The iris is the pigmented iris of the eye. It is the anterior part of the middle eye skin. This middle eye skin is called uvea.
In addition to the iris, the uvea also includes the corpus ciliare and the choroid. The iris separates the anterior from the posterior chamber of the eye and includes the pupil with its inner part. It thus regulates the incidence of light into the eye.
Definition
Iritis is an inflammation of the iris (also called iris inflammation). It is often associated with inflammation of other parts of the middle eye skin (uvea), which is then referred to as uveitis. There are two different ways of development of iritis. On the one hand, there are iritis, which have a non-inflammatory cause, on the other hand, inflammatory diseases can occur in the context of the immune response after infections.
Iritis with non-inflammatory etiology
Many autoimmune diseases can cause inflammation of the iris. Common to autoimmune diseases is that the human immune system attacks and damages the body’s own structures. In the following, the most important diseases are listed with a short explanation:
- Bekhterev’s disease: Bekhterev’s disease is a chronic inflammatory, rheumatic disease that is accompanied by stiffening of the joints and pain.
The spinal column is particularly affected. A typical manifestation of Bekhterev’s disease outside the joints is inflammation of the iris, or inflammation of the front parts of the uvea (anterior uveitis). This usually occurs on one side.
In addition, there is increased tear production and photophobia. Iritis can be accompanied by cataracts or glaucoma.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis is also a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease of the joints. Mostly the fingers are concerned here.
Accompanying it can come to a Iritis, which is accompanied by a strong reddening of the eyes and a Sehminderung.
- Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis belong to the chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. Apart from the inflammatory changes in the digestive tract (gastrointestinal tract), extraintestinal symptoms also occur, including inflammatory complaints of the eyes. In addition to isolated iritis, uveitis and keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), episcleritis (inflammation of the sclera) may also occur.
- Sarcoidosis (Boeck’s disease): Sarcoidosis is an autoimmune granulomatous disease that can affect any organ system.
The iris can also be affected by inflammatory processes.
- Scleroderma: Scleroderma is a disease of the skin, which belongs to collagenosis. The latter is a group of autoimmune connective tissue diseases. It can also lead to inflammation of the iris.
- Other autoimmune diseases: Other diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Behçet’s disease, etc. can also manifest themselves in the iris and uvea.
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