What uveitis is
The uvea is the middle layer of the eye. It includes the coloured iris at the front, the ciliary body just behind it, and the choroid, a layer of blood vessels lining the back of the eye beneath the retina. Inflammation in any of these parts is called uveitis. Depending on where it is, doctors call it anterior (front), intermediate, posterior (back) or panuveitis (all parts).
What causes it
Sometimes no cause is found. Often, though, uveitis is linked to something elsewhere in the body — an infection such as tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, herpes or other viral illnesses; an autoimmune or inflammatory condition such as ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis or sarcoidosis; or an injury to the eye.
Why you may need tests beyond the eye
Finding the cause helps us choose the right treatment. Depending on the type of uveitis, we may arrange blood tests, a skin test for tuberculosis (Mantoux), a chest X-ray, or scans of the eye such as OCT or fluorescein angiography. Some tests are done at the hospital and some at outside laboratories. After a Mantoux test, please don't touch the injection site until it has been read, usually after 48 hours.
Treatment options
Most uveitis is treated with steroid medicines, most commonly eye drops, and sometimes tablets or injections. Drops that widen the pupil can ease pain. If an infection is the cause, it is treated too. Some people need longer-term medicines that calm the immune system, and we work with your physician or rheumatologist on these. Because steroids can raise eye pressure and cause cataract, we check your eyes regularly during treatment. [R12]
When to get help urgently
See an eye doctor promptly if you have a painful red eye with light sensitivity, new floaters, or blurred vision — especially if you have had uveitis before. [R12]
Who treats uveitis here
Dr. B. Anil Kumar
Founder & Senior Eye Surgeon
Questions patients ask
Can uveitis come back?
Yes, some types return. If you have had it before, come in at the first sign of symptoms.
Can I use steroid eye drops left over from last time?
No. Only use drops your eye doctor has prescribed for this episode — the wrong drops can make some eye infections much worse. [R12]
Is uveitis contagious?
Uveitis itself is not passed from person to person.
References
[R12] American Academy of Ophthalmology, Uveitis Preferred Practice Pattern (2020) (https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/uveitis).