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Uveitis is a rare condition in which there is inflammation of the middle layer of the eye called the uvea. A healthy uvea is vital to maintaining a normal blood supply to the retina of the eye. The retina is a light-sensitive membrane that lines the back of the eyes and transmits converts light into electrical impulses and transmits them to the optic nerve and the brain.
The cause of uveitis is often unknown, but can in some cases uveitis can be due to an infection of the herpes simplex virus or herpes zoster virus. Uveitis can also result from an autoimmune disorder. In an autoimmune disorder, the body's immune system mistakes the tissues of the eye as foreign and potentially dangerous to the body and attacks them.
Symptoms of uveitis include eye pain, or discomfort, eye redness, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light (photophobia). Uveitis can affect one or both eyes. Complications of uveitis can be serious and permanently affect vision. To learn more about other important symptoms and complications, refer to symptoms of uveitis.
Uveitis can happen to anyone, but most often occurs to young adults.
Diagnosing uveitis begins with taking a thorough personal and family medical history, including symptoms, and completing a physical examination that includes a thorough eye examination. This will rule out eye conditions and diseases with similar symptoms.
An eye examination includes testing pupil response to light, visual acuity or sharpness of vision, checking the sharpness of peripheral vision, and testing the pressure of the inside the eye. The outer eye is examined using an instrument called a slit lamp, and the inner eye is examined using an instrument call an ophthalmoscope. Another test involves temporarily staining the eye with a special eye drop that makes a corneal abrasion, which can mimic uveitis, visible to the clinician.
A diagnosis of uveitis may be missed or delayed because symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other disorders, diseases or conditions. To learn more about disorder, diseases and conditions that can mimic uveitis, refer to misdiagnosis of uveitis.
Treatment for uveitis includes medications and regular eye care to monitor the disorder. For more details on treatment plans, refer to treatment of uveitis. ...more »
Uveitis: Inflammation of the inner eye, which includes the iris, the ciliary body that holds the lens of the eye; and the choroid ... more about Uveitis.
Uveitis: A condition which is characterised by the inflammation of the uvea of the eye. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Uveitis is available below.
Symptoms of uveitis can affect one or both eyes. Symptoms are due to inflammation, swelling and irritation of the affected eye or eyes. Symptoms include eye pain, eye redness, and blurred vision. There also may be a general discomfort in the affected eye and a sensitivity to light (photosensitivity).
If not diagnosed and treated promptly, complications of uveitis can be serious. ...more symptoms »
Treatment of uveitis includes corticosteroid eye drops or ointment. A corticosteroid medication reduces inflammation and pain of the eye and helps to improve symptoms. Treatment can also lessen the risk of developing complications, such as glaucoma and cataracts. In some cases a corticosteroid medication may be given by injection or in pill form.
Eye drops that enlarge (dilate) ...more treatments »
A diagnosis of uveitis may be delayed or missed because symptoms of uveitis can be similar to symptoms of other diseases and conditions, such as watering eye, subconjunctival hemorrhage, scleritis, cataracts, glaucoma, choroiditis, dry eye, blepharitis, and corneal ulcer. ...more misdiagnosis »
See full list of 9 symptoms of Uveitis
Read more about treatments for Uveitis
Home medical testing related to Uveitis:
Alternative treatments or home remedies that have been listed in various sources as possibly beneficial for Uveitis may include:
Read more about Types of Uveitis
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Review possible medical complications related to Uveitis:
See full list of 53 causes of Uveitis
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Visit our research pages for current research about Uveitis treatments.
The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.
Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Uveitis include:
See full list of 46 Clinical Trials for Uveitis
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Inflammation of the inner eye, which includes the iris, the ciliary body that holds the lens of the eye; and the choroid plexus, a network of blood vessels surrounding the eyeball. (Source: excerpt from Questions and Answers About Reiter's Syndrome: NIAMS)
Acute or chronic inflammation of the iris and ciliary body characterized by exudates into the anterior chamber, discoloration of the iris, and constricted, sluggish pupil. Symptoms include radiating pain, photophobia, lacrimation, and interference with vision. - (Source - Diseases Database)
Inflammation of the uvea of the eye - (Source - WordNet 2.1)
Uveitis is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of
Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health
(NIH). This means that Uveitis, or a subtype of Uveitis,
affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)
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