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Evaluation and Diagnosis

Frequently Asked Questions

How did I get uveitis?

It is unknown why most people get uveitis. There is an association with some infections (such as toxoplasmosis) and certain diseases (sarcoidosis and Behcet's disease) in some patients. Some patients have an increased likelihood due to the genes they carry (HLA B27 and HLA A29). But in many patients, a cause cannot be identified. Uveitis is classified as an autoimmune disease, meaning the body reacts against itself. The trigger for this is unknown, but it might be an infection in susceptible individuals. Treating for infection is unlikely to help, though, as the immune system is already activated and causes the damage.

What types of uveitis are there?

Uveitis is divided initially into anterior, in which only the front part of the eye is involved (this is also sometimes called iritis and iridocylitis), posterior, in which the back of the eye is involved, and panuveitis, in which the front and the back of the eye are both involved. Within each type, there are several subtypes. Anterior uveitis can be subdivided into acute disease, which lasts a few weeks, and chronic disease, which is defined as lasting more than three months. Posterior uveitis is usually chronic and can last a long time except in patients with toxoplasmosis, when it may settle in a few weeks. It is important to know which type of uveitis you have as this determines the type of investigations and treatment you need, as well as complications associated with the condition.

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