Uveitis is inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, which is known as the uvea or uveal tract.
The uvea is made up of the iris (coloured part of the eye), the ciliary body (ring of muscle behind the iris) and the choroid (layer of tissue that supports the retina).
The symptoms of uveitis include:
There are a wide range of potential causes for uveitis (over a 100), including injury, infection or an underlying condition. However, in around 1 in 3 cases, no obvious cause can be found.
When to seek medical advice
Contact your GP as soon as possible if you have persistent eye pain or you notice an unusual change in your vision, particularly if you've had previous episodes of uveitis.
The sooner uveitis is treated, the less likely it is that a person will have permanent problems with their vision.
The main treatment for uveitis is corticosteroids, which are known to effectively reduce inflammation inside the eye.
Types of uveitis
The type of uveitis depends on which part of the eye is affected:
- Anterior uveitis. This is inflammation of the iris (iritis) or inflammation of the iris and the ciliary body (iridocyclitis). It's the most common type of uveitis, accounting for 3 out of 4 cases. It's also the least serious type.
- Intermediate uveitis. This affects the area behind the ciliary body and the retina. It tends to occur in childen, teenagers and young adults, and accounts for 1 in 5 cases of uveitis.
- Posterior uveitis. This affects the area at the back of the eye, the choroid and the retina. It accounts for around 1 in 5 cases of uveitis and is often related to an underlying autoimmune condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Who gets uveitis?
Uveitis is an uncommon type of eye condition.
Uveitis usually affects people aged 20 to 59, but it can also occur in children. Men and women are equally affected.
Despite being uncommon, uveitis is a leading cause of blindness. This is why it's very important to confirm a diagnosis of uveitis as soon as possible if you develop symptoms that could be related to the condition.
Outlook
The outlook for anterior uveitis is usually good because most cases respond quickly to treatment. However, repeated attacks can cause permanent damage to the eye and lead to some vision loss, which is estimated to occur in 1 in 20 cases.
Intermediate and posterior uveitis both carry a significant risk of causing some loss of vision. It's estimated that 1 in 3 people with intermediate uveitis and just under half (43%) of those with posterior uveitis will have some loss of vision. But in many of these cases the loss of vision is mild.