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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffMake an appointment with a doctor who specializes in eye care — an optometrist or an ophthalmologist — who can evaluate iritis and perform a complete eye exam.
What you can do
Make the best use of limited time with your doctor by preparing beforehand.
- Write down your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to your vision problem.
- Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements that you're taking.
- Ask a family member or friend to accompany you. Having your pupils dilated for the eye exam will affect your vision for a time afterward. You may need someone to drive or accompany you after your appointment.
Questions to ask your eye doctor
- Can iritis permanently affect my vision?
- Do I need to come back for any follow-up exams? When?
- What should I do if my symptoms don't go away or seem to worsen?
Questions your eye doctor may ask
- When did you first notice symptoms?
- Are symptoms present in one or both eyes?
- Do you feel pain in your eye after touching your eyelid?
- Do you have headaches?
- Does bright light worsen your eye pain?
- Do you have blurred vision?
- Do you have trouble seeing things near you, at a distance or both?
- Have you recently experienced an injury or other trauma to your eye?
- Have you recently had a viral-like illness?
- Do you have symptoms of arthritis, such as joint pain?
- Do you have any sores in your mouth or on your genitals?
- Have you been diagnosed or treated for iritis before?
- Have you been diagnosed or treated for any other eye condition?
References
- Uveitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/sec09/ch105/ch105a.html. Accessed Dec. 21, 2010.
- Rosenbaum JT. Uveitis: Etiology; clinical manifestations; and diagnosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 21, 2010.
- Mahmood AR, et al. Diagnosis and management of the acute red eye. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 2008;26:35.
- Walker RA, et al. Eye emergencies. In: Tintinalli JE, et al. Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2007. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=6387273. Accessed Dec. 21, 2010.
- Care of the patient with anterior uveitis. St. Louis, Mo.: American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/documents/CPG-7.pdf. Accessed Dec. 27, 2010.
- Mueller JB, et al. Ocular infection and inflammation. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 2008;26:57.
- Robertson DM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 2, 2011.
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