INTRODUCTION
What is uveitis?
Uveitis refers to intraocular inflammation. This inflammation can involve the uvea, composed of the iris, ciliary body, and choroid, but can also involve the vitreous and/or retina (Figure 1). Thus, the term uveitis is somewhat of a misnomer as inflammation is not necessarily limited to uveal structures. Uveitis is classified as one of four categories based on where the inflammation is occurring: anterior uveitis refers to inflammation within the anterior chamber; intermediate uveitis refers to inflammation of the vitreous; posterior uveitis refers to inflammation of the retina, or choroid; and lastly, panuveitis occurs when inflammation is occurring in all areas simultaneously (Table 1). Uveitis is not a singular disease but a generic term encompassing a family of inflammatory diseases with different etiologies and treatment approaches.
How does uveitis clinically present?
Uveitis has a wide range of presentations even when associated with the same specific disease. Uveitis can present acutely with a painful, red, and photophobic eye with reduced visual acuity or chronically with more indolent worsening of visual acuity in an otherwise asymptomatic patient. While anterior uveitis commonly presents with eye pain and redness, these symptoms do not characterize every case of anterior uveitis, nor are they characteristic of anterior uveitis specifically. Similarly, intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis commonly present with decreased vision and floaters, but these symptoms are not universal. Of note, inflammation in the posterior segment of the eye is more likely to cause severe vision loss than anterior
Uveitis refers to intraocular inflammation. This inflammation can involve the uvea, composed of the iris, ciliary body, and choroid, but can also involve the vitreous and/or retina (Figure 1). Thus, the term uveitis is somewhat of a misnomer as inflammation is not necessarily limited to uveal structures. Uveitis is classified as one of four categories based on where the inflammation is occurring: anterior uveitis refers to inflammation within the anterior chamber; intermediate uveitis refers to inflammation of the vitreous; posterior uveitis refers to inflammation of the retina, or choroid; and lastly, panuveitis occurs when inflammation is occurring in all areas simultaneously (Table 1). Uveitis is not a singular disease but a generic term encompassing a family of inflammatory diseases with different etiologies and treatment approaches.
How does uveitis clinically present?
Uveitis has a wide range of presentations even when associated with the same specific disease. Uveitis can present acutely with a painful, red, and photophobic eye with reduced visual acuity or chronically with more indolent worsening of visual acuity in an otherwise asymptomatic patient. While anterior uveitis commonly presents with eye pain and redness, these symptoms do not characterize every case of anterior uveitis, nor are they characteristic of anterior uveitis specifically. Similarly, intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis commonly present with decreased vision and floaters, but these symptoms are not universal. Of note, inflammation in the posterior segment of the eye is more likely to cause severe vision loss than anterior
