What is uveitis?
The uvea is the middle layer of the wall of the eye. It has three parts: the iris, the ciliary body and the choroid. Inflammation (or swelling) of any part of the uvea is called “uveitis.” Uveitis can be classified by the area involved. If the primary area involved is the iris, the condition is called “iritis”; the ciliary body, “cyclitis”, and the choroid, “choroiditis.” Uveal inflammation may also involve adjacent tissues. For example, choroiditis may spread to the retina and thus becomes a “chorioretinitis.” In order to help diagnose what specific type of uveitis you may have, it is important for the ophthalmologist to locate the source of the inflammation. Once the source is located, the physician can best treat the condition and predict the long-term visual outcome. The symptoms of uveitis depend upon the area that is inflamed and the duration of inflammation. Acute iritis may cause a red eye with pain and sensitivity to light.
