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What Is Uveitis?

The uvea is the middle layer of the eye, made up of the iris (the coloured part), the ciliary body (which produces the fluid inside the eye), and the choroid (a layer of blood vessels that nourishes the retina). When any part of the uvea — or nearby structures — becomes inflamed, the condition is called uveitis.

Uveitis can affect one or both eyes. It may come on suddenly or develop gradually, and it can be a one-time event or a chronic, recurring condition. Because inflammation inside the eye can damage delicate tissues, timely treatment is important.

Types of Uveitis

Uveitis is classified by which part of the eye is affected:

Symptoms to Watch For

Uveitis symptoms can appear suddenly or develop over days. See your eye care provider promptly if you experience any of the following:

What Causes Uveitis?

In many cases, the exact cause of uveitis is not identified — this is called idiopathic uveitis. When a cause or association is found, it most commonly falls into one of these categories:

Because uveitis can be the first sign of a systemic disease, your ophthalmologist may order blood work or imaging to look for an underlying cause. This often involves collaboration with your medical doctor or a rheumatologist.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Uveitis is diagnosed through a comprehensive dilated eye examination using a slit lamp, and sometimes with additional imaging such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) or fluorescein angiography. Your ophthalmologist will assess the location, severity, and type of inflammation to guide treatment.

The primary goals of treatment are to control inflammation, relieve pain, prevent further tissue damage, and preserve vision. Treatment options may include:

Some patients with uveitis are at higher risk of developing secondary complications including cataracts, glaucoma, and macular swelling. Your ophthalmologist will monitor for these and adjust treatment as needed.

What Is Glaucoma?

Inside your eye, a clear fluid called aqueous humour is constantly produced and drained to maintain a healthy internal pressure. In glaucoma, this drainage system does not work properly, causing pressure to build up. Over time, elevated pressure damages the optic nerve fibres, leading to gradual, painless loss of peripheral (side) vision.

By the time a patient notices vision loss, significant and permanent nerve damage has usually already occurred. This is why glaucoma is often called the "silent thief of sight" — and why regular eye exams are so important.

Types of Glaucoma

Risk Factors

Anyone can develop glaucoma, but certain factors increase the risk. Having one or more risk factors does not mean you will develop the disease — it means you should be screened regularly:

Symptoms — or the Lack of Them

Open-angle glaucoma, the most common form, typically has no symptoms in its early or moderate stages. There is no pain, no redness, and central vision remains clear until the disease is advanced. Peripheral vision narrows so gradually that most people do not notice until considerable damage has been done.

Acute angle-closure glaucoma is the exception — it can cause sudden, severe symptoms including intense eye pain, headache, nausea, halos around lights, and rapid vision loss. If you experience these symptoms, seek emergency medical attention immediately.

Diagnosis

Glaucoma is diagnosed and monitored through a combination of tests, many of which are quick and painless:

Treatment

Glaucoma treatment cannot restore vision that has already been lost, but it can slow or stop further damage. The goal is to lower eye pressure to a level that protects the optic nerve. Treatment is typically lifelong and may include:

Living With Glaucoma

A glaucoma diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but the large majority of patients who are diagnosed early and follow their treatment plan maintain useful vision throughout their lives. The key is consistency — attending regular follow-up appointments, using prescribed drops as directed, and communicating any concerns with your care team.

Your ophthalmologist will set a target pressure tailored to the severity of your disease and your individual risk factors, and will adjust treatment over time based on how your optic nerve and visual field respond.

What Is Oculoplastic Surgery?

The eyelids and surrounding structures play a critical role in protecting the eye, distributing the tear film, and draining tears. When these structures are affected by ageing, disease, trauma, or tumours, the result can range from discomfort and tearing to impaired vision and significant cosmetic concern.

Oculoplastic surgeons are ophthalmologists who have completed additional fellowship training in the plastic and reconstructive surgery of the eye area. This dual background means they understand both the delicate anatomy of the eye and the principles of reconstructive and cosmetic surgery — an important combination when operating so close to the eye itself.

Functional Conditions

Functional oculoplastic conditions affect how the eyelids and tear system work. In many cases, these procedures are medically necessary and may be covered by OHIP when specific criteria are met.

Aesthetic & Cosmetic Procedures

The eye area is often the first part of the face to show signs of ageing. Oculoplastic surgeons bring a detailed understanding of periorbital anatomy to cosmetic procedures, delivering natural-looking results while protecting the health and function of the eyes.

What to Expect

Most oculoplastic procedures are performed as day surgery or in-office procedures under local anaesthesia, often with light sedation for comfort. Recovery times vary by procedure — minor lid surgeries typically involve one to two weeks of visible bruising and swelling, while more complex reconstructions may require a longer recovery period.

During your consultation, your surgeon will examine the area of concern, discuss the functional and cosmetic goals, explain the procedure in detail, and answer your questions about recovery, risks, and expected outcomes. For procedures that may be OHIP-covered, photographic documentation and visual field testing may be required to support the application.

How Diabetes Affects the Eye

The retina — the thin layer of light-sensitive tissue lining the back of your eye — depends on a network of tiny blood vessels to deliver oxygen and nutrients. Over time, elevated blood sugar damages these small vessels. They can leak fluid and blood into the retina, become blocked, or grow abnormally, all of which interfere with vision.

This process often begins years before any symptoms appear. That is why every person with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes should have regular dilated eye examinations — even if their vision seems fine.

Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy

Risk Factors

Any person with diabetes is at risk for diabetic retinopathy. The following factors can increase the likelihood or speed of progression:

Symptoms — Often None Until Late

In the early stages, diabetic retinopathy causes no pain and no noticeable vision changes. This is precisely why screening is so critical. As the disease progresses, symptoms can include:

Screening & Diagnosis

Diabetic eye screening is a dilated eye exam performed by your optometrist or ophthalmologist. Current Canadian guidelines recommend:

Treatment

Treatment depends on the stage and severity of the disease. In the early stages, careful management of blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol — in partnership with your family doctor or endocrinologist — may be all that is needed. When the disease progresses, ophthalmologic treatments include:

Protecting Your Vision With Diabetes

The most powerful tool for preventing diabetic vision loss is regular screening combined with good systemic health management. Evidence consistently shows that tight blood sugar control, blood pressure management, and cholesterol control dramatically reduce the risk of developing and progressing through diabetic retinopathy.

Even if you have already been diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, treatment is highly effective at slowing progression and preserving vision — especially when initiated early, before significant damage has occurred.

What is the Macula?

The macula is a small, highly specialised area at the centre of the retina. Despite being only about 5 mm across, it is responsible for all of your fine central vision — the vision you use for reading, driving, threading a needle, and seeing faces clearly. The rest of the retina provides peripheral (side) vision, which is typically not affected by AMD.

Types of AMD

Risk Factors

AMD is a multifactorial condition influenced by both genetics and lifestyle. The following factors increase risk:

Symptoms

In early stages, AMD often causes no noticeable symptoms — which is why routine dilated eye exams are so important, especially after age 50. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include:

If you notice sudden distortion or a new blind spot in your central vision, contact your eye care provider promptly — this may indicate a conversion from dry to wet AMD, which requires urgent assessment.

Screening & Diagnosis

AMD is diagnosed through a comprehensive dilated eye examination. Your ophthalmologist or optometrist will look for drusen, pigment changes, and other signs of macular damage. Additional diagnostic tools include:

Treatment

Treatment depends on the type and stage of AMD:

Protecting Your Vision

While some risk factors for AMD — such as age and genetics — cannot be changed, several lifestyle modifications have been shown to reduce risk and slow progression: