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In uveitis, different combinations of these symptoms may be present, depending on which part of the eye is inflamed, including:

• Redness
• Light sensitivity
• Floaters
• Blurry vision
• Pain/tenderness to touch

The symptoms described above may not necessarily mean that you have uveitis. However, if you experience one or more of these symptoms, contact your ophthalmologist for a complete exam.

Causes

Uveitis may develop following eye trauma or surgery, in association with diseases that affect other organs in the body, or may be a condition isolated to the eye itself. Common conditions associated with uveitis include: sarcoidosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, lupus, and Behcet's disease. Uveitis often results from infectious causes.

When evaluating a patient with uveitis, a battery of blood tests may be ordered in an attempt to find a systemic cause. If necessary, patients are sent to a rheumatologist for additional evaluation.  When no cause can be found, the condition is described as “idiopathic.”  

Severe visual loss can result from untreated or undertreated uveitis, including glaucoma, macular edema, iris scarring, retinal damage, and cataract formation. Early detection and treatment is necessary to reduce the risk of permanent vision loss.

Treatment for uveitis may include steroid eye drops, injections, or pills, as well as eye drops to dilate the pupil and reduce pain. More severe cases of uveitis may even require treatment with chemotherapeutic agents to suppress the immune system.