Overview of Uveitis

  • Uveitis
    Uveitis refers to inflammation in the middle layer of the eye, also called the uvea. There can infectious and non-infectious causes of uveitis. Uveitis is certainly treatable, and appropriate treatment leads to prevention of vision loss.  Uveitis can be prevented, even for persons with auto-immune conditions. 
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 28 April 2023
Overview of Uveitis

What is Uveitis?

Uveitis refers to inflammation in the middle layer of the eye, also called the uvea. This layer of the eye is rich in blood vessels, and therefore a lot of blood flows through it, making it prone to infections coming into the eye through the blood, as well as to immune reactions. In practice however, uveitis is a broad term used to describe inflammation affecting any tissue inside the eye. This may include the retina, retinal blood vessels, and vitreous gel inside the eye. Most often, patients have more than one type of tissue affected, including the outermost layer or sclera (the white part of the eye seen from outside), since all these tissues are in contact with each other.

 

Uveitis content contributed by Dr Soumyava Basu

Dr Soumyava Basu is a Consultant Ophthalmologist with Specialisation in Uveitis & Ocular Immunology at L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India, and heads the Uveitis services of the LVPEI network.

 

Reference:
1. Whitcup SM, Sen HN. Whitcup and Nussenblatt's Uveitis: Fundamentals and Clinical
Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2021 Mar 31.
2. Rathinam SR, Namperumalsamy P. Global variation and pattern changes in
epidemiology of uveitis. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2007 May-Jun;55(3):173-83.
3. Jabs DA, Busingye J. Approach to the diagnosis of the uveitides. Am J Ophthalmol.
2013 Aug;156(2):228-36.
4. Jabs DA. Immunosuppression for the Uveitides. Ophthalmology. 2018 Feb;125(2):193-
202.
5. Yuen BG, Tham VM, Browne EN, Weinrib R, Borkar DS, Parker JV, Uchida A, Vinoya
AC, Acharya NR. Association between Smoking and Uveitis: Results from the Pacific
Ocular Inflammation Study. Ophthalmology. 2015 Jun;122(6):1257-61.

 

Changed
07/Apr/2025
Community
Eye Health
Condition
Uveitis

Stories

  • Image of inflammed reddish eye with text overlay on blue strip: Prevention of Uveitis
    Prevention of Uveitis
    Can Uveitis be prevented, especially if a person has an auto immune condition? The prevention of uveitis depends on the cause of uveitis in question. The spread of many infections that cause uveitis, can be prevented by putting public health measures in place. Autoimmune conditions that cause uveitis, often have some disease in the rest of the body that require treatment. Anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive therapy for such diseases, can help in preventing episodes of uveitis. However, there…
  • Image of inflammed reddish eye with text overlay on blue strip: Management of Uveitis
    Management of Uveitis
    Does Lifestyle management play a role in management of Uveitis? In addition to following treatment protocols as described, there is a role for lifestyle modification in many cases. Some forms of uveitis, e.g. HLA-B27 associated uveitis, are triggered by specific factors such as stress or change in diet or season. However, all the factors are not necessarily amenable to lifestyle modification. Smoking has been associated with increased incidence of all anatomical forms of uveitis, and cystoid…
  • Image of an eye with the text Causes of Uveitis and Risk Factors
    Causes of Uveitis and Risk Factors
    The causes of uveitis can be divided into infectious and non-infectious causes.  Infectious causes: The most common infections that cause uveitis are tuberculosis, viral infections (especially the herpes viruses) and toxoplasmosis. Although nearly any type of infection can enter the eye and cause inflammation. Most patients with infectious uveitis do not have evidence of infection elsewhere in the body. This is a fascinating area for uveitis researchers but very intriguing for the patients…
  • Image of inflammed reddish eye with text overlay on blue strip: Uveitis Treatment
    Treatment of Uveitis
    Treatment options for Uveitis The treatment of uveitis depends on the following four factors: presence or absence of infection, location of uveitis in the eye, severity of inflammation, and the expected progression of the disease. All cases of uveitis, in which an infection is identified, require treatment with the specific antibiotic. The antibiotic is given as tablets, but in some cases, may also be injected into the eye. The inflammation in the eye, in both infectious and non-infectious…
  • Image of inflammed reddish eye with text overlay on blue strip Diagnosis of Uveitis
    Diagnosis and Tests for Uveitis
    How is Uveitis diagnosed The diagnosis of uveitis largely depends on accurate identification of the pattern of inflammation in the eye. Once the pattern is recognized, specific lab tests are advised to either support or rule out a given diagnosis for the patient. The tests may include blood tests, radiological tests or testing the fluids collected from inside the eye (aqueous or vitreous). This approach is called targeted or tailored testing and is often successful in making the correct…
  • Image of eye with the text on a blue strip Types of Uveitis
    Types of Uveitis
    Types of Uveitis Since uveitis affects several tissues in the eye, it is most often classified by which part of the eye is predominantly affected. Thus, uveitis affecting the front of the eye is called anterior uveitis, at the back is called posterior uveitis, the middle part intermediate uveitis, and that affecting the entire eye is called panuveitis. Uveitis is also classified by the type of tissue involved – so retinal inflammation is retinitis, and similarly, we have choroiditis (back part…
  • Image of eye with a blue strip and text overlay Uveitis Signs and Symptoms
    Signs and Symptoms of Uveitis
    Signs and symptoms of uveitis The signs and symptoms of uveitis depend on which part of the eye is predominantly affected. Uveitis affecting the front of the eye (iritis or iridocyclitis), or that affecting the sclera, mainly presents with redness or pain.  On the other hand, uveitis of the back of the eye (retinitis or choroiditis) mainly presents with blurred vision. Often patients present with a combination of all these symptoms. Other symptoms of include floaters, and perception of…
  • Overview of Uveitis
    Overview of Uveitis
    What is Uveitis? Uveitis refers to inflammation in the middle layer of the eye, also called the uvea. This layer of the eye is rich in blood vessels, and therefore a lot of blood flows through it, making it prone to infections coming into the eye through the blood, as well as to immune reactions. In practice however, uveitis is a broad term used to describe inflammation affecting any tissue inside the eye. This may include the retina, retinal blood vessels, and vitreous gel inside the eye. Most…

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