Chorioditis

Chorioditis – General Information

Chorioditis is a disease which belongs to the group usually known as the “white dot signs”; this group assimilates all the disorders which affect the choroids and the retina. All these disorders are characterized by the white dots which appear in the eye. Chorioditis is an eye disorder with a small frequency and it is described as a number of lesions with irregular shapes which relate to two different forms of the surface of the eye: the choriocapillaris and the retinal pigment epithelium. In most of the cases which have been reported the disease affected only one eye, but the damages it provoked were extremely hard to treat.  Considering all these, we can say that Chorioditis is an acute inflammation (damage, swelling, irritation) of the part of the eye which includes the retina, the uvea, as it is known be the doctors; however, it also affects the muscles which are responsible to assure a proper control of the lens (the ciliary body) and the vessels of blood which cover and protect the retina (the choroid). The studies show that this disease can affect anybody, no matter the age, sex or the area the patient lives in. on the other hand, it can develop quite fast and there are some conditions which can accelerate the development: some infections, autoimmune disorders or a prolonged exposure to toxic substances or a toxic environment. Although the doctors try to find out the exact reasons why this disease appears, in most of the cases, there are no clear information.

Chorioditis – Symptoms

• Blurred vision
• Redness and pain
• Distortion of the shapes and size of certain objects
• Infections
• Sensitivity
• Floating spots or floaters may appear in the field of vision.

The symptoms are usually developing fast.
Chorioditis can also appear as a result of some more major disorders, such as: histoplasmosis, Sarcoidosis, Toxoplasmosis, Syphilis, tuberculosis, Ulcerative colitis, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter syndrome, Behcet syndrome, Herpes zoster infection, Cytomegalovirus infection, Trauma, and so on.

Chorioditis – Treatment

• A general examination of the health condition
• An interior examination of the eye, using an opthalmoscope or a slit lamp; in this case, drops should be administrated in order to enlarge the pupil and, consequently, the back viewing of the eye).
• Vision exam, which consists of using an eye chart for determination of spotty areas which may correspond to areas in which the retina is damaged.
• X-rays, blood tests
• Scars and floaters can, however, be seen without performing an exam.

Chorioditis is usually considered a mild disorder. In order to eliminate the pain and the spasm of the pupil, the patient should be administrated some drops and, in some cases, dark glasses could prove quite useful. In more severe cases, ointment or steroid eye drops are necessary. However, Chorioditis need to be carefully analyzed and diagnosed and, in most of the cases, if an underlying problem was found, this should be treated first. For this to be done in a safe way, after the underlying problem was detected, some specialists should be called (especially, in the case of tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, syphilis or Behcet’s syndrome). In the case of infections diseases, doctors should administrate an antibiotic therapy, as well as corticosteroids. If an autoimmune disorder is found, the doctors should choose the best way to suppress the immune system.    
In most of the cases, the Chorioditis attacks last for a few days or, in the most severe cases, a few weeks. It is also quite common for the disease to reappear after the treatment. If the treatment is not administrated carefully or if the sufferer does not visit a doctor, the disease can evolve and last for a couple of years; in this situation, it permanently affects the sufferer and causes irremediable complications and vision loss.
Some of the most severe complications which can appear in the case of Chorioditis are:

• Cataracts
• Retinal detachment
• Glaucoma
• Vision loss
• Fluid within the retina

In order to maintain a normal heath condition of your eyes, you should visit a doctor whenever you suspect some of the symptoms associated with Chorioditis and you should perform a general consultation at least once a year. In addition, in order to avoid the appearance of this disease, you should carefully treat any underlying problems.