1. Eye Care Glossary
  2. What Is Uveitis?

Uveitis

Although uveitis isn’t as common as some eye conditions, about four million new cases are diagnosed each year. If uveitis impacts you or someone you care about, it doesn’t really matter how common the condition is, does it? Let’s talk about what uveitis is, what causes it, and—most importantly—how it is treated.

What Is Uveitis?

Uveitis is a form of eye inflammation that impacts the uvea, the middle layer of the eye wall. The uvea includes the:

  • Iris: The colored portion of the eye
  • Ciliary body: Right behind the iris; produces aqueous fluid
  • Choroid: A thin layer of tissue lined with blood vessels

There are four types of uveitis, based on which part of the uvea is inflamed:

  • Anterior uveitis is the most common type and impacts the inside of the front of the eye.
  • Posterior uveitis affects the area around the choroid, toward the back of the eye.
  • Intermediate uveitis impacts the center layer, around the retina.
  • Panuveitis means that all layers are inflamed, from the front to the back.

Causes

What causes uveitis is unclear in 50–70% of cases. In these instances, it’s not something that optometrists can track down or test for—they simply need to treat the condition when it arises. When a clear cause can be determined, it usually falls into one of these categories:

  • Infection
  • Medication side effect
  • Injury or surgery
  • An autoimmune disorder
  • Ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory disease

Symptoms

If you think you might have uveitis, it’s important to schedule an appointment with an eye doctor so they can take a look as soon as possible. Look for these symptoms:

  • Blurred vision
  • Eye pain
  • Eye redness
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Decreased vision
  • The presence of floaters
  • Gaps in your field of vision

If the condition is not treated promptly and properly, uveitis can even lead to blindness.

Diagnosis

Uveitis is usually diagnosed during a regular eye exam. An ophthalmologist or other eye care specialist will ask you questions about your vision and perform a physical exam, including a visual field test, a tonometry exam, and a slit-lamp examination. If they suspect the uveitis is the symptom of another condition, they may order blood tests and additional exams to get to the bottom of it. You may even be referred to another specialist. But this depends on the circumstances.

Treatment Options

Since uveitis can have a wide variety of causes (or may have no discernible cause at all), the condition boasts a range of treatments. If uveitis is determined to be a symptom of another underlying condition, the root problem will be treated, with the hope that the uveitis will clear up, too.

However, many cases do not have an easily identifiable cause. In that case, reducing inflammation and treating the symptoms (like providing pain relief options) is the best path forward. There is no definitive cure for uveitis.

Ultimately, the lack of a clear cause introduces a great deal of complexity. You’ll want to schedule an appointment with an eye doctor as soon as you notice symptoms so they can use their expertise to determine the best form of treatment. Uveitis may also be diagnosed during an annual eye exam, even if there are no other symptoms, which is one more reason a regular appointment is so important.

Frequently Asked Questions