Uveitis is inflammation inside the eye. It can cause redness, pain, blurred vision or floaters, and it can come from an infection, an autoimmune condition, an injury, or — often — no identifiable cause at all. Left untreated, it can threaten sight, so the priority is always to control the inflammation quickly and then find out why it happened.
Uveitis is classified by where inside the eye the inflammation sits. That location shapes both the symptoms and the treatment.
Inflammation at the front of the eye (iris and nearby tissue).
The most common type; causes redness, pain and light sensitivity.Inflammation in the vitreous gel, mid-eye.
Often presents with floaters and blurred vision, less pain.Inflammation at the retina or choroid, the back of the eye.
Can affect vision significantly; needs prompt retina-level assessment.Inflammation affecting the whole eye, front to back.
Usually needs the most intensive treatment and closest monitoring.In many patients, no cause is ever found, and that's still manageable. But because uveitis can be the eye's way of signalling a body-wide condition, we screen for common triggers before settling on long-term treatment.
Infections — tuberculosis, herpes viruses, toxoplasmosis, and others
Autoimmune and inflammatory conditions — ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile arthritis, sarcoidosis, Behçet's disease
Eye injury or previous eye surgery
Certain medications, in rare cases
No identifiable cause (idiopathic) — common, and still treatable
Vision test, dilated eye exam, eye pressure check, and imaging where the back of the eye is involved.
Targeted blood tests and, where relevant, referral to rheumatology or infectious disease to find a systemic cause.
Starting with eye drops or injections; escalating to oral or systemic therapy if the disease is more extensive.
Regular reviews to catch flares early and watch for steroid-related side effects like raised eye pressure or cataract.
Treatment is stepped up according to how much of the eye is involved and how the inflammation responds.
First-line for anterior uveitis.
Often combined with drops to keep the pupil from sticking.Injections around or inside the eye.
Used for intermediate and posterior disease, or swelling of the macula.Oral steroids or steroid-sparing immunosuppressants.
For recurrent, severe or bilateral disease; often co-managed with rheumatology.Cataract or vitrectomy surgery in selected complicated cases.
Timed carefully around control of the inflammation.Uveitis can escalate over days, so don't wait out symptoms that fit this pattern.
Eye pain with redness that isn't a simple irritation
Sudden sensitivity to light
New floaters or a drop in vision
Blurred vision that doesn't clear with blinking
Any of the above in someone with a known autoimmune condition
Vitreo-Retina, Refractive & Cataract Specialist
MBBS (AIIMS) · MD Ophthalmology (AIIMS) · Vitreoretinal & Uvea (AIIMS) View profileFinal cost depends on the type of uveitis, whether investigations or systemic therapy are needed, and whether surgery becomes necessary. Our care team explains each factor before you decide.
No. Conjunctivitis affects the surface of the eye and is usually mild; uveitis is inflammation inside the eye and can threaten vision if untreated. A red, painful eye should always be checked rather than self-treated.
Not always. Many people have a single episode that resolves fully. Others, especially with an underlying autoimmune condition, need longer-term or recurring treatment.
If untreated or poorly controlled, yes — through complications like glaucoma, cataract or macular swelling. That's why prompt treatment and monitoring matter.
Often yes. The pattern of your uveitis, not just which eye, guides which tests are useful.
No, uveitis itself is not contagious, even though a small number of cases start from an infection.
Specialist-led care for retina and diabetic eye conditions.
Full-thickness, lamellar and laser-assisted grafts.