Uveitis

Uveitis is an inflammation of the middle layer of the eye called the uvea, which includes the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. This condition affects the eye's ability to see clearly and can cause symptoms like eye redness, pain, blurred vision, and light sensitivity. The uvea is important for providing blood supply to the eye, so inflammation here can lead to serious complications if untreated. Uveitis can result from infections, autoimmune diseases, or injury. It primarily impacts the visual system and can lead to permanent vision loss if not properly managed.

Uveitis is defined as inflammation of the uveal tract, which includes the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. It is caused by immune-mediated mechanisms, infections, or trauma leading to infiltration of inflammatory cells into the uveal tissues. The condition is classified based on the anatomical location of inflammation: anterior, intermediate, posterior, or panuveitis. It is clinically significant due to its potential to cause ocular pain, photophobia, decreased visual acuity, and complications such as cataracts, glaucoma, or retinal damage. Common causes include autoimmune diseases like sarcoidosis, HLA-B27-associated spondyloarthropathies, and infections such as Toxoplasma gondii or Herpes simplex virus. Diagnosis and management are critical to prevent irreversible vision loss.