Uveitis is an inflammation of the uveal tract, which is the part of the eye that supplies blood. There are many reasons why the uveal tract can become inflamed, including extended contact lens wear, infections, autoimmune diseases, and trauma. In many cases, the cause of uveitis is unknown.
UPMC experts provide expert diagnosis and treatment for uveitis to reduce the risk of vision-threatening complications.
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What Is Uveitis?
Uveitis is an inflammation of the uveal tract, the part of the eye that supplies blood. There are many reasons why the uveal tract can become inflamed, including extended contact lens wear, infections, autoimmune diseases, and trauma. In many cases, the cause of uveitis is unknown.
What are the types of uveitis?
There are four types of uveitis, including:
- Anterior uveitis — Inflammation of the area around your iris, which usually includes redness, eye pain, tearing, sensitivity to light, and blurred vision.
- Intermediate uveitis — Inflammation of the middle layer of your eye, including the gel-like fluid that fills your eye, called the vitreous, and the ciliary body.
- Posterior uveitis — Inflammation toward the middle and back of your eye including the ciliary body or the retina. This may or may not be painful, but it can typically be more serious.
- Panuveitis – Inflammation of the anterior, intermediate, and posterior uvea.
How common is uveitis?
Uveitis is a rare condition, affecting 38 per 100,000 people. It occurs most often in people ages 20 to 60.
What causes uveitis?
Doctors can’t always determine what is causing uveitis, leading to a diagnosis of idiopathic uveitis.
In some cases, uveitis is caused by:
- Infections, such as shingles, herpes, syphilis, Lyme disease, or parasites.
- Inflammatory conditions, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
- Injury.
- Medications.
Uveitis risk factors
Uveitis risk factors include:
- Age between 20 and 60.
- Eye injuries.
- Infections.
- Medications.
- Smoking.
- Systemic inflammatory conditions.
Complications of uveitis
If left untreated, uveitis can cause vision loss and blindness.
Other complications include:
- Cataracts.
- Cystoid macular edema.
- Glaucoma.
- High pressure inside your eye.
- Macular pucker.
- Optic nerve damage.
- Retinal damage.
- Synechiae, which cause your iris to stick to the lens or cornea.
How can I prevent uveitis?
Although you cannot prevent all causes of uveitis, routine eye exams, preventing eye injury, and treating infections can help reduce your risk.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Uveitis?
The symptoms of uveitis depend on where the uveal tract first became inflamed.
Symptoms may include:
- Blurry vision.
- Eye pain.
- Floaters, or small spots or lines that float through your field of vision.
- Red eyes.
- Sensitivity to light.
Do you have uveitis for life?
In most cases, uveitis responds well to treatment and symptoms improve within a few weeks. Some people develop chronic or recurrent uveitis, which needs ongoing treatment.
When should I see a doctor about my uveitis symptoms?
If you have symptoms of uveitis, you should see your doctor right away. Getting fast treatment can reduce your risk of vision loss and other serious complications.
How Do You Diagnose Uveitis?
Your ophthalmologist will perform a complete ocular exam, including dilation to rule out other causes of a red eye and to determine the extent of your uveitis.
What to expect during your visit
If your doctor suspects uveitis, they will:
- Ask about your symptoms.
- Perform an eye exam by dilating your pupils.
- Review your health history and medications.
Tests to diagnose uveitis
Your ophthalmologist will perform several tests to diagnose uveitis, including:
- Eye exam with dilation.
- Retinal exam.
After your ophthalmologist diagnoses uveitis, he or she may perform more tests to determine its cause.
Uveitis prognosis
If left untreated, uveitis can cause vision loss and blindness. However, getting fast treatment for uveitis can reduce your risk of serious complications and recurrence while promoting a full recovery.
How Do You Treat Uveitis?
The goals of uveitis treatment are to eliminate symptoms and prevent vision loss, blindness, and other serious complications. In some instances, a complete exam is needed to discover the cause of the uveitis, and the underlying cause must be treated to prevent it from recurring.
Treatment includes:
Medications for uveitis
Uveitis must be treated promptly with topical and/or oral steroids to prevent vision-threatening complications.
Your doctor may prescribe different types of steroid medications based on your condition, including:
- Eye drops (most common).
- Injections.
- Implants, if other treatments aren’t successful.
- Oral steroids (pills).
Patients taking steroids must visit the doctor frequently because steroids can cause glaucoma and cataracts.
How long does it take to recover from uveitis?
Most cases of uveitis improve within a few weeks with treatment. In some cases, chronic or recurrent uveitis may develop.
Why Choose UPMC for Uveitis Care?
When you choose UPMC for uveitis care, you will receive:
- Access to ophthalmology expertise — Our ophthalmology experts treat the full spectrum of conditions using the latest, evidence-based treatment guidelines and strategies.
- A full range of treatment options — We offer general ophthalmology and retinal care that allows us to effectively treat all types of eye disorders while reducing your risk of complications.
- Multidisciplinary care — We partner with retinal specialists, primary care providers, and other medical experts to provide complete care that optimizes your recovery and quality of life.
