Uveitis

Uveitis is defined as inflammation of the uvea, which consists of the iris, ciliary body, and the choroids.  There are many different causes of uveitis including infection, trauma, neoplasm, or autoimmune.

Signs and symptoms

The most common presenting symptoms include blurred vision, pain, light sensitivity, redness, and floaters.  Signs of uveitis depend on the cause and location of predominantly affected area inside the eye.  Examination may reveal deposits of inflammatory cells on the cornea, iris, the lens, vitreous cavity.  It may also show swelling in the retina and leakage around the retinal blood vessels.

Classification of uveitis

Uveitis is classified into four major types depending on the location of inflammation

    • Anterior uveitis: inflammation is present mostly in the anterior chamber and the iris of the eye. Possible causes include HLA-B27 associated diseases, idiopathic, JRA, herpes simplex, sarcoidosis, and trauma.

    • Intermediate uveitis: inflammation is present in the middle part of the eye. Possible causes include idiopathic, sarcoidosis, and multiple sclerosis.

    • Posteriror Uveitis: Inflammation primarily involves the back of the eye.   Common causes include infectious processes such as parasites, bacteria, virus, sarcoidosis,  and autoimmune reaction.

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