Eye Concerns

Uveitis is an inflammation of the inside of the eye, specifically affecting one or more of the three parts of the eye that make up the uvea: the iris, the ciliary body and the choroid.

The eye and different types of Uveitis

The eye is a hollow, fluid-filled, ball-shaped organ. It has several layers. The outer layer is the tough coat composed of the cornea and sclera, the innermost is the retina, a thin light-receptor layer, and the middle layer is the uvea. The uvea is made up of the iris, the ciliary body and the choroid. When any part of the uvea becomes inflamed then it is called uveitis.

Anterior Uveitis
This is the most common form of uveitis. It is often referred to as Iritis as the iris is the part of the uvea that is usually inflamed.

Intermediate Uveitis
This affects the area just behind the ciliary body (pars plana) and also the most forward edge of the retina. This is the least common type (7 -15%) of uveitis.

Posterior Uveitis
This is when the inflammation affects the part of the uvea at the back of the eye, the choroid. Often the retina is affected in this group. The choroid is basically a layer rich in small blood vessels, which nourishes the photoreceptor layer of the retina. This kind of uveitis (15 - 22%) is commonly slower in onset and may last longer. It is often more difficult to treat and is often associated with progressive loss of vision.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of uveitis can include:

• Light sensitivity
• Blurring of vision
• Pain
• Redness of the eye
• Floaters

Uveitis may come on suddenly with redness and pain, or it may be slow in onset with little pain or redness, but gradual blurring of vision.

What are the causes?

Uveitis may be infectious -- resulting from virus, fungus, parasites or bacteria. It can also be non-infectious -- resulting from a trauma, an immunological process, or in many cases having no known etiology.