Question: What is traumatic iritis, and how do you treat it?

Answer: This is an inflammation inside the eye that occurs after blunt trauma. By iritis, we mean that the iris is inflammed. Some people more accurately call this an iridocyclitis, meaning both eye iris and the underlying ciliary body are inflammed.

However you call it, what this generally means is there is some inflammation and sensitivity of the anterior structures inside the eye. This can cause low grade irritation and photophobia (sensitivity to light). This light sensitivity occurs because the iris wants to constrict with light … and if the iris is inflammed, it hurts.

We generally treat iritis with:

1. A steroid like prednisolone acetate (Pred Forte) to decrease inflammation
2. A cycloplegic like cyclogyl that will dilate the pupil and paralyze the ciliary body so that they don’t spasm with light exposure.

A moderatly-long acting cycloplegic has another positive affect in that it keeps the inflammed, “sticky” iris from adhearing to the underlying lens.


Comments and Feedback
 27 Comments »


Hi my name is Kyle, and Im from Northwest ohio. Six years ago I was hit in my left with a softball, and went partially blind in that eye from the blunt force trauma. My pupil stays dialated, and have a red blind spot in the center of my vision. My question is if there is anything out there to treat this as with a surgical preceduure at least to my pupil dialating again.
thanks Kyle

Comment by Kyle Krotzer — December 14, 2008 @ 12:20 pm


due to the blunt trauma, your iris (your eye color that controls the pupil size) had likely sustained damage. more particularly, the sphincter, which is the muscle in the iris responsible for constricting it, might have suffered some permanent injury and therefore possibly caused irreversible dilation. as a result, you may suffer symptoms of glare and photophobia aside from the apparent iris ‘deformitity’. honestly, i believe most ophthalmologist will not attempt surgical correction as this is more of a cosmetic concern, and surgery will likely achieve poor if not neglible results, especially since its been six yrs since the accident. if you are very concern with the appearance of your pupil, then your best bet is to try tinted contact lenses, with either a general tint or an artificial pupil, to mask the prob.
in addition, i hope you had followed up with an optometrist or ophthalmologist after the blunt trauma and addressed the red blind spot as this is obviously not normal. if not, then it is imperative that you see your eye dr soon b/c this red spot might turn out to be something (such as a retinal detachment) that can lead into further vision loss.
hope this helps.
thanks, la

Comment by l, od — January 30, 2009 @ 9:08 pm


My name is Chase, I got hit in the eye three days ago by a racquetball. It hit me so fast and unexpectly that I could not get my eye closed. It knocked my Contact out and I had a black spot for about 60 seconds that went away and I found my contact and made it to the locker room where I put an eye drop in and put my lens back in and drove home. The next morning my eye felt like a sore muscle and after I was awake and blinked for a while the pain went away. Today is Saturday and and it happened Wednesday. When i woke up for work the light in my bathroom killed my eye and all morning the light has been killing my eye. I just took my contact out and its feeling a little better but I have been wearing my shades even inside. What should I do. I dont have insurence and dont want to go to the doctor. Thanks.

Editors Note: If you have any change in your vision, or discomfort to the eye, or visual side effects … you should go to the eye doctor (an ophthalmologist may be most appropriate given the nature of the injury). You may have a case of traumatic iritis that needs to be treated. A dilated exam might be a good idea as well … though extremely unlikely, impacts to the eye can create a small retinal tear, so warrants a checkup.

Comment by Chase — May 2, 2009 @ 10:02 am


my son and his friends are cycling across the country, and having fallen one of the guys has traumatic iritis, he has been given steroids for the treatment but we need to know if it is ok to continue the cycle ride , many thanks.He does not have blurred vision.

Comment by Andy Woodward — July 9, 2009 @ 4:20 pm


My right eyes was hit about 15 years ago by a belt’s buckle. left my eye some rednes, if accidently rub. will caused irritation.

What sort of treatment should I get or is it permanent redness and can’t be removed?

Comment by Zul — September 27, 2010 @ 3:08 am


10 days back my left eye hardly hit by shuttlecock (badminton) and that day onwards my left eye is blurred. The same day I went to ophthalmologist and he prescribed PRED FORTE and HEMASOL eye drops, still I am applying those eye drops. But still my vision (left eye)is blurred. Whether the blurring is due to eye drop OR is it a permanent vision loss? Pls advise. Thanks

Comment by Matti — October 12, 2010 @ 3:01 am


Hi There! i was hit by a softball on my left eye as well but just 2 months ago and i am suffering from a blunt trauma. The opthalmologist also prescribed me Pred Forte and Hemasol eye drops for my condition. Currently i have stopped using the Hemasol eyedrops and the Pred Forte just once a day. However, my vision is still relatively blur due to the pupil not being able to shrink to the similar size as my other eye. What can i do make my left eye’s pupil shrink to it’s normal size just as how it should on my right eye?

Comment by Alvic — December 4, 2010 @ 12:15 pm


About a year ago I was treated by a chiropactic doctor. He twisted my neck on one of my office visit without warning or consent. I was in the emergency room two days later. with iritis and pressure. I have suffered with this for the past year. I have taken steroids for the same amount of time. I also have constant back pain. Do you know if twisting of the neck can cause eye problems and back problems?

Comment by Penny Burkett — January 6, 2011 @ 1:41 pm


My left eye has been irritated since cataract surgery in November, 2010. I have been using prednisolone drops and Xibrom. My doctor now says I have Iritis. Light is very painful into either eye. Keeping both eyes covered tightly gives relief and allows me to use fewer drops, but is not practical in the long term. My surgeon commented that my pupil was very small. Perhaps he had to manipulate it to a degree that trauma was experienced. What treatment should I seek to cure this condition?

Comment by Linda Fairbanks — February 26, 2011 @ 11:15 am


my right eye has a very bad vision i cant really see properly it is very blury i want to get information on wat can help my eye to get good vision

Comment by ruhullah — August 5, 2011 @ 10:46 am


my son got hit in the eye today friday whith his i.d that he hangs in his neck and his eye got red and was hurting its not res anymore and doesnt hurt,but he sees a little differenti guess blurry what we are worried is that his pupil is smaller than the other eye it seems to be getting a little bigger but very slow is that normal?

Comment by maricela luna — September 2, 2011 @ 8:35 pm


hola tengo 40 años y sufri una caida cuando era niña cinco años mas o menos , quede ciega de un ojo ahora con mis años quisiera saber si puedo operarme y recuperar mi vision siempre e estado ciega de un ojo, tengo alguna posibilidad

Comment by patricia o — February 14, 2012 @ 11:02 am


a couple of years ago, my son’s right eye was hit by a tiny flying stone and it scratched the outer surface of the iris and caused it to be dilated. since my boy is also short sighted, the power keeps on increasing on the other eye but not to the injured one. how can i find a solution to this problem as the opthalmologist once told me that he might suffer from glaucoma if the condition persists.

Comment by fariza hamzah — April 15, 2012 @ 9:05 pm


After suffering from a traumatic iritis injury, what symptoms are expected during the healing process? How long is the healing process and what are the risks of prolonged vision problems related to the injury?

Comment by Becky — April 28, 2012 @ 12:55 pm


hi there..i was struck without notice on the left side of my cheek bone and temple 6 days ago. my left eye vision is severely blurred…and is now even worse than my right (lazy) eye. reading is a complete blur…and now distance, too, is a problem..big ptoblem. Also my left eye still feels soar and strained…when I look left it ffeels like I have scratching sensation in the under sorner of my eye. is this damage permanent or is there a remedy for a cure?????

p.s. blindlness runs in my family (two brothers and one sister in one ey!) Could I be even more prone to blindness due to my (former) girl-friend sudden strike at my face????

Comment by emily — May 3, 2012 @ 11:55 am


Hi! Here is another victim!LOL! My right eye got hit with a shuttlecock yesterday (12 hours back). Went blind for almost 6 hours and had a hard time sleeping because of the pain. Vision is still blurry( can distinguish letters) but much better. This sensitivity to light may keep me indoors for some days. Haven’t had any treatment though. Will request a friend to drive me to doctor later.

Comment by Vil — July 26, 2012 @ 11:15 pm


Hi my name is Mohamed , im 18years old . I got hit in my eye when i was 5 years old , i got pushed by another kid from behind and landed my right into a corner of a desk . My right eye has always been damaged i can barely see anything , also ever since that incident my right eye has not stopped jumping , its not cross eyed condition its just jumps up and back down every second in a very fast paste ..

Comment by Mohamed — September 13, 2012 @ 12:01 am


I also had a badminton injury on the 13th of Sept. On the 17th I went to the Optometrist. Luckily he didn’t see an damage and my vision was 20/20 but I had a little inflamation. He prescribed Predinisolone OPT 1% drops. Started off with 1 drop every hour for 1 day then every 2 hours for 1 day the every 3 hours till finally once a day. I have stopped using the drops but vision is still blurry after 2 days. I was wondering when the side effects of the drops are going to wear off? Doctor said everyone is different I was hoping there is somebody out there who has had experience with these drops and how they were affected.

Thanks

Comment by Kimie Gorski — September 30, 2012 @ 12:25 pm


since 1990 my left eye came red iwent hospital and they give me medication i put after 3 hours my eye is too red and tears i gone back to start new treatment and doctor said is iritis then gave me medication after 2mnth is ok up to 2003 is come back again that time im not saw properly the doctor they gave me medication im used up 2004 my eye is clear and June 2011 is start again up to now my eye is not clear i saw very far still im used medication so can you help how to do

Comment by fatma — November 14, 2012 @ 2:55 pm


This is my third time in.a year now i have it in both.eyes the docs don’t know were It’s coming from but i am afraid iam going blind can you get irititis this often and in both eyes?

Comment by Karen — December 27, 2012 @ 11:09 pm


Hi I’m Shari and I am experiencing iritis on my left eye for 14 days already. I visited an ophthalmologists yesterday and they gave me medicines(pred forte and I dunno the other one, its with my nurse) but will have my follow up next week again. When I was 7 years old (I’m now 18) I was stoned on my eye by a kid Would it also be a caused why suddenly I am suffering from Iritis?

Comment by Shari — January 16, 2013 @ 6:14 pm


I am a Paramedic and was working in the back of the ambulance when it made a sudden stop and I was thrown forward hitting my right eye and cheek. Opthalmology at the ER examined my eye and said that I have traumatic iritis and a corneal abrasion. The light hurt and I was sensitive to light for a few days. I was prescribed some drops and antibiotic ointment. I take prednisone already so maybe that helped. I feel fortunate that my eye is feeling better. My cheek is still swollen. I stopped the drops since I am back at work after a week. I am reading here that several people have problems many years after the initial incident. If you have any updates if your treatment has worked please post. Thanks.

Comment by Kel — February 17, 2013 @ 2:55 am


I hsd jumped into water from16 meter height my head hit the water first then I becamepartial blind fir an hour. then I went to doctir he tild me that I had a traumstic iridocyclitos
I want to know impct of this and hw long it goes pls tell me iam in worry

Comment by uday kumar — March 23, 2013 @ 12:56 am


Hi my name is Rick. 10 years ago I was punched on my right eye. After the swaling went down I knowrest that my pupil was big and will not dailect anymore it stays big. My eye color is ok. In the past 3 years I knowrest that I get blury vision in that eye from time to time. Is there anything that I can do to make my pupil dailect again? Thank you.
Rick.

Comment by Rick — March 26, 2013 @ 2:07 pm


Hi ive been hit in the eye with a cherry pretty hard and now its sensitive to light and hurts whenever i touch it. Can anyone help?

Comment by Christian — April 14, 2013 @ 1:30 pm


About 20 years ago I was hit in the head which triggered my first episode of iritis. I have been suffering with reoccurring episodes at least twice a year ever since. I’ve been on the steroid drops along with the ones to dilate my pupil. I get flair ups in both eyes and have a significant amount of damage. I am not at risk for glaucoma, is there anything I can do to stop the flair ups from happening?

Comment by Pauline Johnson — April 29, 2013 @ 2:33 pm


Two weeks ago,my brother got injury in his right eye in bomb blast .A stone with speed of bullet hit his eye and penetrate into the eye.Doctor has done C.T scan and stone was present at the end corner of the eye,After surgury stone is remove and GLoBe EYE repair.Doctor prescribe antibiotic and tobradex drops.Now he only senses the light and can sense the moving object by his right eye.his ultrasound result is fine.xcan somebody tell me,is there ay chance that he recover his vision again

Comment by erum — May 24, 2013 @ 4:02 am


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