Print Print
CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.

Uveitis - Background information
What is it?

  • Uveitis (also known as iritis) is inflammation of the uveal tract (iris, ciliary body, and choroid). Inflammation of nearby tissues, such as the retina, the optic nerve, and the vitreous humour, may also occur [Rathinam and Namperumalsamy, 2007; Forster, 2009].
    • See Wikipedia for a cross-sectional diagram of the eye.
  • Uveitis is a potentially blinding condition that accounts for approximately 10% of people with visual impairment in the western world [Wakefield and Chang, 2005].
  • Uveitis can be classified based on which part of the eye is affected by the inflammation [Bloch-Michel and Nussenblatt, 1987; Merck, 2008].
    • Anterior uveitis (the most common form of uveitis) — inflammation in the anterior segment of the eye; this includes iritis (inflammation that is confined to the anterior chamber) and iridocyclitis (inflammation that is confined to the anterior chamber and anterior vitreous).
    • Intermediate uveitis — inflammation of the ciliary body, pars plana, and anterior vitreous.
    • Posterior uveitis — inflammation of any combination of the following: the choroid (choroiditis), retina (retinitis), or optic nerve head (papillitis).
    • Panuveitis — inflammation in both the anterior and posterior chambers.
  • Uveitis may be acute, recurrent, or chronic [Jabs et al, 2005].
    • Acute — sudden onset of inflammation which resolves within 3 months.
    • Recurrent — repeated episodes, separated by periods of inactivity without treatment for more than 3 months.
    • Chronic — persistent inflammation lasting more than 3 months, in which prompt relapse (within 3 months) occurs when treatment is discontinued.

© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement