Uveitis is a general term describing a group of inflammatory diseases that produces swelling and destroys eye tissues. These diseases can slightly reduce vision or lead to severe vision loss. The term “uveitis” is used because the diseases often affect a part of the eye called the uvea. Nevertheless, uveitis is not limited to the uvea. These diseases also affect the lens, retina, optic nerve, and vitreous, producing reduced vision or blindness.
Uveitis may be caused by problems or diseases occurring in the eye, or it can be part of an inflammatory disease affecting other parts of the body.
It can happen at all ages and primarily affects people between 20 and 60 years old.
Uveitis can last for a short (acute) or a long (chronic) time. The severest forms of uveitis reoccur many times.
Eye care professionals may describe the disease more specifically as:
Anterior uveitis
Intermediate uveitis
Posterior uveitis
Panuveitis uveitis
Eye care professionals may also describe the disease as infectious or noninfectious uveitis.
Uveitis that occurs in children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis may not hurt or makes the eyes go red, therefore children might not report symptoms of blurring. Often children with uveitis suffer irreversible damage to the eye because of delays in reporting symptoms.
UVEITIS
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