Prevent Blindness, the leading nonprofit organization focused on eye health and safety in the United States, has designated September 16-22, 2024, as the fourth annual Inflammatory Eye Disease (IED) Awareness Week. This initiative aims to increase public knowledge about IEDs through a range of free educational resources, including fact sheets, social media graphics available in English and Spanish, a dedicated webpage, and expert videos. The event is supported by a grant from Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals.
Inflammatory eye diseases encompass various conditions characterized by inflammation of the eye. This inflammation can result from multiple factors, including infections, allergies, autoimmune disorders, irritants, injuries, or trauma affecting the eyes, eyelids, or surrounding tissues. While most cases of eye inflammation are treatable, severe conditions can occur in rare instances. Early diagnosis and treatment by an eye care professional are crucial for alleviating symptoms and potentially preserving vision.
Key types of inflammatory eye diseases include:
Uveitis: The most prevalent form of inflammatory eye disease in the U.S., responsible for approximately 30,000 new cases of blindness annually. Uveitis is categorized based on which part of the eye is inflamed, including Anterior, Intermediate, Posterior, and Panuveitis, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Keratitis: Also known as a corneal ulcer, this condition involves inflammation of the cornea and is a leading cause of corneal blindness in the U.S. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, or injuries, and improper use of contact lenses or dry eye can contribute to noninfectious keratitis.
Thyroid Eye Disease: Often associated with Graves’ disease, this autoimmune disorder leads to inflammation and swelling of the tissues behind the eye. It can affect individuals with normal or low thyroid hormone levels.
Conjunctivitis: Commonly referred to as “pink eye,” this is the most frequent eye infection in the U.S. and is highly contagious.
The Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Expert Series includes several informative episodes on IEDs:
1.”Uveitis and Inflammatory Eye Diseases” with Steven Yeh, MD, Professor and Stanley Truhlsen Jr. Chair of Ophthalmology at the Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center.
2.”Thyroid Eye Disease and Mental Wellness” with Dr. Prem Subramanian, neuro-ophthalmologist at the UCHealth Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center.
3.”Thyroid Eye Disease” featuring Sara T. Wester, MD, FACS, professor of clinical ophthalmology at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, and TED patient Stephen Bander.
4.”Inflammatory Eye Disease” with Ann-Marie Lobo-Chan, MD, MS, Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Uveitis Service at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.
Jeff Todd, President and CEO of Prevent Blindness, emphasized the importance of early intervention: “Because of the risk of vision loss, it’s essential for individuals to see an eye care professional if they experience symptoms. We encourage people to visit our website, download our fact sheets, and watch our free educational videos to learn more about IEDs and how to protect their sight.”
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