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Uveitis: What It Is, Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
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Uveitis (noun, pronounced yoo-vee-EYE-tis): uveitis is inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye, which holds most of the eye's blood vessels and includes the iris, the ciliary body and the choroid. It can affect one or both eyes, can start suddenly or build slowly, and untreated it can permanently damage vision. Doç. Dr. Muhammet Derda Özer, who leads uveitis care at Laser Istanbul Clinic, treats it; most cases settle with prompt treatment from an eye specialist.
Uveitis: key facts
- What it is
- Inflammation of the uvea (iris, ciliary body, choroid), the middle layer of the eye
- Other names
- Anterior uveitis is also called iritis (the NHS uses "iritis" as another name for uveitis)
- Main types
- Anterior, intermediate, posterior and panuveitis, named by where the inflammation sits
- How common
- Rare: about 2–5 people in every 10,000 each year in the UK (Moorfields)
- Most common type
- Anterior uveitis, about 75% of adult cases (Moorfields)
- Typical age
- Mostly adults aged about 20–60 (NEI, Moorfields)
- Cause found?
- Not in many people: roughly 40% of cases have no identified cause (Moorfields)
- Main risks if untreated
- Cataract, glaucoma, swelling at the centre of the retina, permanent vision loss
- Specialist
- Ophthalmologist; at Laser Istanbul Clinic, Doç. Dr. Muhammet Derda Özer (Associate Professor)
What is uveitis? The uvea explained
The uvea is the eye's middle coat, sitting between the white outer wall (the sclera) and the light-sensing retina at the back. It has three parts: the iris (the coloured ring that controls the pupil), the ciliary body (which makes the fluid inside the front of the eye and helps the lens focus) and the choroid (the blood-vessel layer that feeds the outer retina). Because the uvea is so rich in blood vessels, inflammation there can spread to nearby structures, including the lens, the vitreous gel, the retina and the optic nerve.
Uveitis is not one disease but a group of inflammatory conditions. It may be acute (starting suddenly and lasting weeks), recurrent (coming back after quiet periods) or chronic (lasting more than about three months, according to Moorfields). It can be non-infectious, most often an immune-system problem, or infectious. Eye specialists worldwide describe it using the Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) system, first published in 2005, which classifies uveitis by where in the eye the inflammation is found and grades it by counting inflammatory cells in the front chamber of the eye and by how hazy the vitreous gel looks.
Types of uveitis: anterior, intermediate, posterior and panuveitis
The SUN system names four types. The type tells your doctor which structures are involved and which causes and treatments are most likely.
| Type | Where the inflammation is | Typical symptoms | Typical course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anterior uveitis (iritis) | The front of the eye: the iris, sometimes the ciliary body | Aching, painful red eye; light sensitivity; blurred vision; sometimes a small or oddly shaped pupil; headache | Often sudden, lasting weeks; some people have repeat attacks or a chronic form |
| Intermediate uveitis | The middle of the eye: the vitreous gel and the ciliary body | Floaters; blurred vision; often little redness or pain | Weeks to years, often cycling between better and worse |
| Posterior uveitis | The back of the eye: the choroid and retina | Reduced vision and floaters, often without pain | Usually gradual onset and can last years; sometimes complicated by a retinal detachment |
| Panuveitis | All layers, front to back | Any of the above, often more severe | Needs specialist care |
Sources: AAO, NEI, Moorfields.
Anterior uveitis is by far the most common type. Moorfields reports that about 75% of adult cases are anterior. In a 2025 single-centre study of 91 people with uveitis referred to a rheumatology clinic in Ankara, 81.3% had anterior uveitis and 14.3% had intermediate uveitis. That figure comes from a referral clinic, so it shows the pattern rather than the national rate.
Scleritis is a different condition. Inflammation of the sclera (the white wall of the eye) causes a very red eye and intense pain that can even prevent sleep (Moorfields). It is sometimes confused with uveitis, and an eye specialist can tell them apart.
Uveitis symptoms: what does uveitis feel like?
Uveitis symptoms depend on the type, and they can come on over hours and days or build over weeks and months. The NHS also notes that some people have no symptoms at all, so the condition is sometimes found on a routine eye test. Typical symptoms are:
- Eye pain, which may feel worse when reading (NHS), ranging from a mild ache to intense discomfort
- A red eye, with or without pain, and sometimes a watery eye
- Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- Blurred or cloudy vision, or reduced vision
- Floaters (dots or strands that drift across your vision) or dark spots; the NHS also lists lights in the corner of the eye
- A small or irregularly shaped pupil (Moorfields)
- Headache (Moorfields)
Anterior uveitis usually announces itself with a painful red eye. Intermediate and posterior uveitis can be quiet: floaters and gradually worsening vision may be the only signs, which is one reason they can go unnoticed for a while.
Flashes, floaters and a "curtain" over your vision need same-day assessment. They can be a sign of uveitis, but also of a retinal tear or retinal detachment, which is an emergency. See our guides: Glossary: Floaters → and Glossary: Retinal detachment →.
Uveitis causes: what causes the eye to become inflamed?
In many people no cause is found. Moorfields reports that about 40% of patients have no identified cause, and the NHS says most cases have no clear cause. When a cause is found, it falls into a few groups.
Immune-system and inflammatory diseases (non-infectious)
Uveitis often occurs alongside conditions in which the immune system attacks the body's own tissue. The National Eye Institute lists ankylosing spondylitis, Behçet's disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, ulcerative colitis and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease. The AAO adds inflammatory bowel disease. Moorfields notes that a positive HLA-B27 gene test is the most common autoimmune association, and that juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most frequent cause in children. Because uveitis can be the first sign of one of these diseases, an eye specialist will often ask about joint pain, back pain, bowel symptoms, skin and mouth ulcers, and may work with a rheumatologist (AAO).
Infections
Viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi can inflame the uvea. The NHS names herpes simplex, herpes zoster (shingles) and toxoplasmosis; the AAO also lists syphilis and Lyme disease; the NEI adds cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis, histoplasmosis and, in people with weakened immunity, AIDS; Moorfields adds tuberculosis. Infectious uveitis is treated differently from immune-driven uveitis, which is why finding out which one you have matters. For infections of the eye surface and the inside of the eye, see our guide: Eye infections: conjunctivitis, keratitis & endophthalmitis →.
Injury, surgery and other causes
An eye injury or eye surgery can trigger uveitis (NHS, AAO, Moorfields). Rarely, an eye tumour or a cancer such as lymphoma can mimic or cause it (NHS, NEI). Smoking is listed by the AAO as a risk factor.
Who gets it?
Anyone can develop uveitis, but it is most common in adults aged about 20 to 60 (NEI). In children, juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the leading cause, and uveitis there can be silent, so children with the condition are checked at regular intervals by an eye specialist.
How is uveitis diagnosed?
Diagnosis starts with a full eye examination by an ophthalmologist. The NEI describes a dilated eye exam and medical history as the core of it. Your doctor will usually:
Ask about your health history
other illnesses, joint or back pain, bowel or skin problems, past infections, injuries and smoking.
Check vision and eye pressure
Examine the eye with a slit lamp,
a microscope with a bright thin beam of light. It shows inflammatory cells and protein haze ("flare") in the front chamber, deposits on the back of the cornea, and any adhesions between the iris and lens. These are the signs the SUN system grades.
Dilate the pupil
to inspect the vitreous gel, retina and choroid at the back of the eye.
Arrange scans
such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), which measures the thickness of the macula, the retina's centre, and shows swelling that can threaten sight.
Order further tests if needed
the AAO lists blood or skin tests, examination of eye fluid and imaging such as X-rays, to look for an infection or an underlying disease.
Doctors may also test for HLA-B27 or look for infections, because the answer changes the treatment. If you have a diagnosis, send your reports and scans to us before you travel (see the free consultation below), so your surgeon can see what has already been done.
Uveitis treatment: how is uveitis treated?
The aims of uveitis treatment are to switch off the inflammation quickly, to treat the cause when one is found, to ease pain, and to protect your sight. The NEI says steroids are the mainstay, given as eye drops (the most common route), tablets, injections or, for hard-to-treat cases, surgical implants. Treatment is decided by the type of uveitis, whether it is infectious or non-infectious, and how severe it is.
| Treatment | What it does | Typically used for |
|---|---|---|
| Corticosteroid eye drops | Reduce inflammation in the front of the eye | Anterior uveitis, and alongside other treatment |
| Dilating eye drops | Widen the pupil, easing pain and swelling (AAO) | Anterior uveitis |
| Steroid injections or implants | Deliver medicine around or inside the eye so it reaches the back of the eye; implants release it over a long period | Intermediate and posterior uveitis, macular swelling, cases not controlled by drops |
| Steroid tablets | Calm severe or two-eyed inflammation throughout the body | Severe, posterior or panuveitis |
| Immunosuppressants and biologic drugs (such as TNF inhibitors) | Dampen the immune response so steroids can be reduced | Severe, recurrent or chronic non-infectious uveitis (NHS) |
| Antimicrobial medicine | Treats the infection itself | Infectious uveitis such as herpes or toxoplasmosis |
| Laser, cryotherapy or surgery | Treat complications or the most severe cases (NHS) | Complications such as retinal problems |
Biologic treatment has a strong evidence base. In the VISUAL I trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2016, 217 people with active non-infectious intermediate, posterior or panuveitis received adalimumab (a TNF inhibitor) or placebo. The median time to treatment failure was 24 weeks with adalimumab and 13 weeks with placebo. The US FDA approved adalimumab for uveitis on 30 June 2016. In an Istanbul study of 123 children with non-infectious uveitis, 48.8% needed a biologic drug, which shows how often severe disease needs more than drops.
Steroids have side effects. The NEI warns that steroid treatment raises the risk of cataract and glaucoma, which is why doctors use the lowest dose that controls inflammation and check eye pressure regularly. Do not stop prescribed drops suddenly, and do not restart old drops on your own: uveitis can flare, and some infections get worse on steroids.
Recovery varies. Moorfields says most cases recover well with treatment. Anterior attacks often settle in weeks, while chronic and recurrent forms may need long-term control and regular checks. No treatment can be promised to work for everyone.
Treatment with us: uveitis care is led by Doç. Dr. Muhammet Derda Özer (Doç. means Associate Professor), who also treats cornea, retina and ocular tumours and speaks Turkish and English. Cataract in an eye that has had uveitis is assessed in the same way: the inflammation has to be controlled first. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Satıcı and Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram look after cataract and laser patients.
Uveitis complications: is uveitis serious?
Yes. The NHS warns that untreated uveitis can lead to vision loss and blindness, and the AAO stresses that it needs treatment right away to prevent lasting problems. Complications include:
| Complication | What happens |
|---|---|
| Cataract | The lens clouds, caused by long-lasting inflammation or by steroid treatment (NEI) |
| Glaucoma | Raised eye pressure damages the optic nerve; inflammation and steroids can both raise pressure (NEI) |
| Macular swelling (cystoid macular oedema) | Fluid collects in the centre of the retina and blurs central vision; a frequent reason for lasting vision loss, found on an OCT scan |
| Synechiae | Scar-like adhesions between the iris and the lens leave an irregular pupil |
| Retinal detachment and scarring | More likely in posterior uveitis (Moorfields) |
| Permanent vision loss | Results when inflammation continues unchecked (NHS, AAO) |
Early treatment, close follow-up and keeping appointments even when the eye feels better are the best protection.
When to see a doctor about uveitis
Get same-day help from an eye doctor or emergency eye service if you have:
- a painful red eye with sensitivity to light
- blurred or worsening vision, or sudden new floaters or flashes
- vision loss: the NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E for sudden loss of vision
- redness and pain after an eye injury or eye surgery
In the UK the NHS advises contacting your GP or NHS 111 urgently for eye pain, light sensitivity, vision changes or severe redness; a referral to an ophthalmologist is usually seen within 24 hours.
Book a prompt appointment if you:
- have an autoimmune condition such as ankylosing spondylitis, Behçet's disease, psoriasis or inflammatory bowel disease and notice any new eye symptoms
- have been told you had uveitis before and the eye starts to feel the same again
- have a child with juvenile idiopathic arthritis whose eyes have not been checked
Travelling for treatment: if you have an acute attack, see a doctor where you are first. Once the eye is stable, you can send us your records for a second opinion on long-term care, and your surgeon will tell you what needs to be done before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Uveitis is inflammation of the uvea, the eye's middle layer, made up of the iris, ciliary body and choroid. It can cause pain, redness, light sensitivity, blurred vision and floaters, and without treatment it can damage sight permanently.
The usual symptoms are eye pain, a red eye, sensitivity to light, blurred vision and floaters. Anterior uveitis is usually painful and red, while intermediate and posterior uveitis may cause only floaters and gradually worsening vision. Some people have no symptoms.
Often no cause is found, around 40% of the time according to Moorfields. Known causes include autoimmune diseases (such as ankylosing spondylitis, Behçet's disease and sarcoidosis), infections (such as herpes, shingles, toxoplasmosis, syphilis and tuberculosis), eye injury or surgery, and smoking as a risk factor.
There are four: anterior (front of the eye, also called iritis), intermediate (vitreous gel), posterior (retina and choroid) and panuveitis (all layers). Anterior uveitis is the most common type.
Iritis is inflammation of the iris, which is the most common form of uveitis, so it is also called anterior uveitis. Uveitis is the wider term for inflammation in any part of the uvea.
It can be. Left untreated it can cause cataract, glaucoma, macular swelling and permanent vision loss, even blindness. With prompt treatment from an eye specialist, most people recover well, but some need long-term treatment because the inflammation returns.
Uveitis itself is inflammation, not a disease in its own right. In many people it is linked to an immune-system condition such as ankylosing spondylitis, Behçet's disease, sarcoidosis or juvenile idiopathic arthritis, while others have an infection, injury or no identifiable cause.
By an ophthalmologist, using a dilated eye exam, a slit-lamp examination, a medical history and sometimes scans such as OCT, blood tests or other tests to look for an infection or an underlying disease.
Many acute attacks settle with treatment, and the cause can be treated when one is found. Chronic and recurrent uveitis often needs long-term control with regular check-ups, and recurrences can happen.
Yes, if it is not treated. The NHS lists vision loss and blindness as the risk of untreated uveitis, which is why a red, painful eye with light sensitivity needs prompt assessment.
Sources for the facts on this page
- NHS. Uveitis. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/uveitis/
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. What Is Uveitis? https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-uveitis
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. Uveitis: diagnosis and tests. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/uveitis-diagnosis
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. Uveitis: treatment. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/uveitis-treatment
- National Eye Institute (NIH). Uveitis. https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/uveitis
- Moorfields NHS eye specialist trust. Uveitis (patient information). https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/condition/uveitis/
- Jabs DA, Nussenblatt RB, Rosenbaum JT; SUN Working Group. Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature for reporting clinical data. American Journal of Ophthalmology 2005. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16196117/ (record read via Europe PMC)
- Jaffe GJ, Dick AD, Brézin AP, et al. Adalimumab in Patients with Active Noninfectious Uveitis (VISUAL I). New England Journal of Medicine 2016;375(10). Europe PMC record: https://europepmc.org/search?query=Adalimumab%20in%20Patients%20with%20Active%20Noninfectious%20Uveitis
- US Food and Drug Administration. Humira (adalimumab) approval history, supplement 397, uveitis, 30 June 2016. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=125057
- Yarkan Tuğsal H, Sezer S, Orman G, Sungur G. Characteristics and complications of uveitis in patients referred to rheumatology: a single-center study. Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2025. Europe PMC record: https://europepmc.org/search?query=Characteristics%20and%20complications%20of%20uveitis%20in%20patients%20referred%20to%20rheumatology
- Koru L, Esen F, Turkyilmaz O, et al. Clinical characteristics of pediatric noninfectious uveitis and risk factors for severe disease. Clinical Rheumatology 2024. Europe PMC record: https://europepmc.org/search?query=Clinical%20characteristics%20of%20pediatric%20noninfectious%20uveitis%20and%20risk%20factors%20for%20severe%20disease
Have uveitis, or been told your eye keeps getting inflamed?
Send us your eye reports, scans and medication list. Doç. Dr. Muhammet Derda Özer, who leads uveitis care at Laser Istanbul Clinic, will review them and tell you which options may suit your eyes, with no obligation.
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