Overview
The uvea is the pigmented middle layer of the eye: iris at the front, choroid at the back. When it becomes inflamed, white cells flood the fluid inside the eye. Anterior uveitis, affecting the iris, is the commonest form and typically presents as a painful, deeply red, light-sensitive eye.
Uveitis is frequently linked to autoimmune disease elsewhere in the body, and recurrent episodes warrant investigation. Untreated, it can cause glaucoma, cataract and lasting damage to the retina.
What are the common symptoms?
- Aching eye pain, often deep and dull
- Marked light sensitivity
- Redness concentrated around the coloured part of the eye
- Blurred vision, and floaters
- A small or irregular pupil
- Usually one eye, though it can affect both
What causes it, and who is at risk?
- Autoimmune conditions: ankylosing spondylitis, sarcoidosis, inflammatory bowel disease, juvenile arthritis
- Infections including herpes, toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis and syphilis
- Eye injury or surgery
- The HLA-B27 genetic marker
- Often, no identifiable cause
How is it treated?
Treatment is urgent and is usually straightforward once started. The follow-up matters, because pressure can rise as a side effect of the treatment itself.
- Steroid eye drops, tapered slowly under supervision
- Dilating drops to relieve pain and prevent the iris sticking to the lens
- Treatment of any underlying infection
- Systemic immunosuppression for severe or recurrent cases
- Blood tests and imaging to look for an associated condition
- Regular pressure monitoring
When to get seen quickly
A painful red eye with light sensitivity and blurred vision needs assessment the same day. Do not treat it as conjunctivitis and wait.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Only an eye care professional who has examined you can tell you what is actually going on.