Definition & overview

Uveitis refers to a group of inflammatory diseases that affect the uveal tract (iris, ciliary body and choroid). It may also involve adjacent tissues — the retina, vitreous and optic nerve. Uveitis can be acute or chronic, unilateral or bilateral, and occurs at any age. Left untreated, it can cause cataract, glaucoma, macular edema and permanent vision loss.

Types of uveitis

• Anterior uveitis: inflammation of the front of the eye (iris/ciliary body) — most common.
• Intermediate uveitis: mainly affects the vitreous and peripheral retina.
• Posterior uveitis: affects the choroid and retina — higher risk to vision.
• Panuveitis: inflammation across all segments of the eye.

Causes & risk factors

Uveitis may be triggered by:

• Autoimmune diseases (e.g., sarcoidosis, ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis)
• Infections (e.g., tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, herpes, syphilis)
• Trauma or surgery
• Idiopathic — no identifiable cause in many cases

Symptoms to watch for

Seek urgent eye care if you experience: eye redness, pain, blurred vision, floaters, light sensitivity, or sudden vision changes.

Diagnosis & tests

Diagnosis requires a careful eye exam (slit-lamp, dilated fundus exam) and often imaging (OCT, ultrasound). Blood tests and chest imaging may be used to identify systemic causes.