American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [746]
Treatment
To treat choroiditis, a doctor may prescribe corticosteroid drugs to relieve inflammation and pain and eliminate the blurred vision. If choroiditis is caused by an infection, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
Optic Neuritis
Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve, which disrupts the flow of signals from the retina to the brain and impairs vision. The condition usually develops between ages 20 and 40. In rare cases, optic neuritis results from an infection in the tissues that surround the optic nerve. Optic neuritis can occur in people who have multiple sclerosis (see page 696), which affects the nervous system.
Symptoms
The main symptom of optic neuritis is gradual or sudden blurring of vision in one eye. In severe cases, the blurring may progress to temporary blindness within a few days. Other symptoms include pain when moving or touching the affected eye, and seeing the color red as faded.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of optic neuritis is based on the symptoms and an examination of the affected eye. The doctor may also order an MRI (see page 113) of the brain to examine the optic nerve and to rule out other neurological disorders.
Treatment
In most cases, optic neuritis clears up on its own. Sometimes a doctor prescribes high-dose intravenous corticosteroids to relieve inflammation and pain. Although some impairment of vision may persist, vision usually returns to normal within about 6 weeks. After treatment, optic neuritis may recur in the same eye or in the other eye.
Malignant Melanoma
Malignant melanoma (see page 1069) is a cancer that can affect the eyes as well as the skin, and is the most common type of cancer that occurs inside the eye. Malignant melanoma usually occurs in the choroid (the layer of blood vessels beneath the retina that supplies oxygen and nutrients to the eye) or the ciliary body (the muscles that focus the lens). However, it occasionally develops in the iris (the colored part of the eye).
Malignant melanoma affects only one eye and usually occurs in middle-aged or older people. Most tumors are detected during a routine eye examination by an ophthalmologist (eye MD). Others are brought to the doctor’s attention because of a gradual loss of vision in the affected eye.
Symptoms
The symptoms of malignant melanoma of the eye can include a red, painful eye; a small flaw on the iris (the colored part of the eye) or conjunctiva (the transparent membrane that covers the white of the eye and lines the eyelids); a change in the color of the iris; poor vision in one eye; or bulging eyes.
Diagnosis
To diagnose malignant melanoma, an ophthalmologist will dilate (widen) your pupils with eyedrops and look inside your eyes with an ophthalmoscope (a viewing instrument that projects a bright light onto the back of the eye). He or she may order tests such as ultrasound (see page 111) or fluorescein angiography (see page 110) to determine the location and size of the tumor.
Treatment
Treatment for malignant melanoma may include radiation therapy (see page 23) to destroy the cancer cells or surgical removal of the affected eye (enucleation) to remove the tumor and help prevent the cancer from spreading. Because malignant melanoma can spread, your doctor will continue to monitor your condition after you have been treated.
Retinoblastoma
Retinoblastoma is a rare, malignant tumor of the retina that occurs in one or both eyes, usually in children between ages 2 and 3. Because retinoblastoma is often inherited, you should seek genetic counseling (see page 952) before having children if you know that the disorder runs in your family. If you already have a child, have his or her eyes examined by an ophthalmologist soon after birth, and tell the doctor about your family history of retinoblastoma.
Symptoms
A child with retinoblastoma may have no symptoms or may have misaligned eyes (see page 1055). In some cases, the tumor may be visible through the pupil as a white area inside the eye.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Retinoblastoma