Eye inflammation can stem from many causes, including an infection such as pink eye. Iritis is a condition involving inflammation of your iris, the colored part of your eye, and uveitis causes inflammation in the iris, as well as in other internal structures of your eye. These conditions might occur once, or you might have chronic flare-ups. Diagnosis requires an eye exam, but your doctor will not typically order blood tests such as C-reactive protein levels.
Symptoms
The symptoms of eye inflammation will vary depending on the condition you have. An eye infection will often cause swelling of your eyelids, eye redness, itching and surface irritation. Intraocular inflammation might cause eye redness also, but you might feel pain or aches that seem to occur within your eyeball itself. You might experience light sensitivity and vision changes as well.
C-Reactive Protein
C-reactive protein is a product of the liver, and doctors often test for this protein because high levels typically indicate inflammation in your body, including inflammation of the blood vessels, a risk factor for heart disease. Your doctor will not typically test your C-reactive protein levels for inflammatory eye conditions because she can examine your eyes and spot inflammation directly.
Treatment
If you have an inflammatory eye condition, you will typically require treatment to resolve your symptoms, and your treatment needs will vary depending on your condition and the severity of the inflammation. An eye infection might require antibiotics or other eyedrops to treat the source of the infection. Iritis and uveitis might require steroid eye drops to reduce inflammation or drops that dilate the pupil because this might relieve some discomfort from iritis and prevent further complications.
Considerations
Contact your doctor if you have any symptoms of eye inflammation. Prompt treatment can help prevent complications or worsening of your symptoms. If your doctor tested your C-reactive protein for any reason and found that you have high levels, follow any recommended lifestyle changes or prescribed medications, and keep all follow-up appointments with your doctor to monitor your condition.
