II. Defintions
III. Epidemiology
- Incidence: 17 to 52 per 100,000 per year in North America
- Prevalence: 58 to 115 per 100,000 per year in North America
- Peak ages: 20-59 years old
IV. Pathophysiology
- Autoimmune reaction (similar to Episcleritis and Scleritis)
- Uveitis may occur in isolation or as part of a systemic inflammatory condition (see causes below)
- Diagnosis is as a result of spillover inflammation into the aqueous and vitreous resulting in cells and flare
V. Types
- Anterior Uveitis (Iritis or Iridocyclitis)
- Intermediate Uveitis
- Inflammation of the vitreous chamber (vitritis)
- Posterior Uveitis
- Inflammation of the Retina (retinitis) or Choroid (Choroiditis or chorioretinitis)
- May extend to the Optic Nerve Head (Neuroretinitis)
- Panuveitis
- Generalized ocular inflammation
VI. Causes
- See Medication Causes of Uveitis
- Traumatic Iritis
- Blunt Eye Trauma causes intraocular inflammation and blood barrier breakdown
- Onset may be delayed 2-3 days after injury
- Traumatic Iritis duration is typically 7-10 days
-
Bacterial Infection
- See Endophthalmitis under differential diagnosis below
- Bloodbourne infection
- Involves any uveal location
-
Cat-Scratch Disease
- Involves Posterior Uveitis, specifically Neuroretinitis
-
Lyme Disease
- Involves any uveal location
-
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Involves any uveal location
- Affects <1% of Tb cases
-
Syphilis
- Involves any uveal location
- Affects <5% of Syphilis cases
-
Toxocariasis
- Involves posterior uveal location (Posterior Uveitis)
- Leprosy
- Other infectious causes
- Local infection from perforating wound or Corneal Ulcer
- Viral Exanthem
- HIV Infection
-
Rheumatologic Conditions
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Occurs in up to 50% of pauciarticular Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Accounts for 80% of Uveitis cases in children
- Occurs in <5% of adult Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Occurs in up to 50% of pauciarticular Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Spondyloarthropathy (often seronegative, affects Anterior Uveitis)
- Behcet's Disease
- May affect any uveal location
- Occurs in >60% of cases
- Relapsing Polychondritis
- Involves anterior chamber (Anterior Uveitis)
- Sarcoidosis
- Involves any uveal location
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
- Involves any uveal location
- Affects <1% of SLE cases
- Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome
- Involves Posterior Uveitis
- Uveitis occurs in 100% of cases
- Kawasaki's Disease
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Anterior Uveitis, affecting >15% of IBD cases)
- Neurologic disorders
- Multiple Sclerosis (Intermediate Uveitis, affecting 30% of MS cases)
- Renal disorders
- Tubular Interstitial Nephritis
- Involves anterior chamber (Anterior Uveitis)
- Tubular Interstitial Nephritis
VII. Symptoms
-
Eye Pain
- Moderate deep aching Sensation
- May radiate into periocular structures (e.g. brow pain or temporal pain)
- Eye Pain is often absent in Intermediate Uveitis and Posterior Uveitis
- Not relieved with Topical Anesthetic (e.g. tetracaine)
- Photophobia
- Vision decreased or blurred
- Visual Floaters
- Eye tearing
VIII. Signs
-
Pupil constricted and poorly reactive (due to iris spasm)
- Other acute eye conditions typically cause Mydriasis
- Pain on direct light exposure
- Pain also occurs on Consensual Light Reflex when light is shone into opposite eye
-
Conjunctival injection
- Present in most cases of Anterior Uveitis
- Injection is localized around the iris, in contrast with Conjunctivitis in which the the injection is more widespread
-
Ciliary Flush (or blush)
- Injection of bulbar Conjunctiva around limbus (circumcorneal hyperemia)
- Anterior flare
- Flare is an increased turbidness or cloudiness of the Aqueous Humor
- Anterior chamber "cells" slough
- Anterior cells seen on Slit Lamp exam
- Often in combination with flare (known as "cells and flare")
- Corneal Keratic Precipitates
- Yellow or white deposits of aggregated cells on the posterior surface of the Cornea (endothelial surface)
- Results from the anterior chamber cells
- Sterile Hypopyon
- White Blood Cells in severe inflammatory response may settle and accumulate at the anterior chamber floor
- Irregular pupil shape
-
Intraocular Pressure abnormal
- May be either increased or decreased
IX. Labs
- First-line labs to consider if systemic cause is suspected
- Complete Blood Count
- Basic metabolic panel
- Urinalysis
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
- Other tests to consider
- Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR)
- Tuberculin Skin Test or Quantiferon-TB
- HLA-B27 (if Spondyloarthropathy suspected)
- Other rheumatologic of infectious disease tests as indicated based on history and exam
X. Imaging
-
Chest XRay
- Consider if Sarcoidosis, Tuberculosis suspected
XI. Differential Diagnosis
- See Acute Red Eye
- Acute Glaucoma
- Primary ocular Lymphoma
- Consider in age over 50 years old with intermediate or Posterior Uveitis
-
Endophthalmitis
- Bloodborne infection with intraocular infection
- Patients typically present appearing toxic or septic
- Some cases may develop more insidiously
- Klebsiella Pneumoniae in diabetic patients
- Systemic Fungal infections
- Less virulent Bacterial Infections (e.g. Central Line Infection, IV Drug Abuse)
XII. Complications
-
Decreased Visual Acuity
- Severe Visual Impairment: 35%
- Legally blind: 10%
-
Iris scarring
- Impaired pupillary movement
- Secondary Glaucoma
XIII. Precautions
- Children be asymptomatic with minimal exam findings despite significant inflammation (e.g. juvenile RA)
- Intermediate and Posterior Uveitis may have relatively normal anterior chambers
- Most Uveitis findings require the magnification of a Slit Lamp exam
XIV. Management
- Urgent referral all cases to Ophthalmology
- Risk of serious complications if delayed management
- Timely Pupillary dilatation
- Topical Corticosteroids may be indicated (based on ophthalmology evaluation)
XV. References
- Rosenbaum in Yanoff (1999) Ophthalmology, p. 4.1
- Trobe (2012) Physician's Guide to Eye Care, AAO, p. 67-8
- Harman (2014) Am Fam Physician 90(10): 711-6 [PubMed]
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Related Studies
Definition (MSH) | Acute or chronic inflammation of the iris and ciliary body characterized by exudates into the anterior chamber, discoloration of the iris, and constricted, sluggish pupil. Symptoms include radiating pain, photophobia, lacrimation, and interference with vision. |
Definition (CSP) | acute or chronic inflammation of the iris and ciliary body characterized by exudates into the anterior chamber, discoloration of the iris, and constricted, sluggish pupil; symptoms include radiating pain, photophobia, lacrimation, and interference with vision. |
Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
MSH | D015863 |
ICD9 | 364.3 |
ICD10 | H20 , H20.9 |
SnomedCT | 267620006, 193481009, 193499001, 77971008 |
English | Cyclitides, Heterochromic, Cyclitis, Heterochromic, Heterochromic Cyclitides, Heterochromic Cyclitis, Iridocyclitides, Unspecified iridocyclitis, Iridocyclitis, unspecified, iridocyclitis (physical finding), iridocyclitis, iridocyclitis was observed, Iridocyclitis NOS, Iridocyclitis [Disease/Finding], iridocyclitis (diagnosis), Unspecified iridocyclitis (disorder), Inflammation of iris and ciliary body, Iridocyclitis (disorder), Iridocyclitis, NOS, Iridocyclitis |
Dutch | niet-gespecificeerde iridocyclitis, Iridocyclitis, niet gespecificeerd, iridocyclitis, Cyclitis, heterochrome, Heterochrome cyclitis, Iridocyclitis |
French | Iridocyclite non précisée, Cyclite hétérochromique, Iridocyclite |
German | unspezifische Iridozyklitis, Iridozyklitis, nicht naeher bezeichnet, Heterochrome Zyklitis, Iridozyklitis, Zyklitis, heterochrome |
Italian | Iridociclite non specificata, Ciclite eterocromica, Iridociclite |
Portuguese | Iridociclite NE, Ciclite Heterocrômica, Iridociclite |
Spanish | Iridociclitis no especificada, iridociclitis no especificada (trastorno), iridociclitis no especificada, iridociclitis (trastorno), iridociclitis, Iridociclitis, Ciclitis Heterocrómica |
Japanese | 詳細不明の虹彩毛様体炎, ショウサイフメイノコウサイモウヨウタイエン, コウサイモウヨウタイエン, 異虹彩色性毛様体炎, 虹彩毛様体炎, 毛様体炎-異虹彩色性 |
Swedish | Iridocyklit |
Czech | iridocyklitida, Blíže neurčená iridocyklitida, Iridocyklitida |
Finnish | Iridosykliitti |
Russian | IRIDOTSIKLIT, GETEROKHROMNYI TSIKLIT, TSIKLIT GETEROKHROMNYI, ГЕТЕРОХРОМНЫЙ ЦИКЛИТ, ИРИДОЦИКЛИТ, ЦИКЛИТ ГЕТЕРОХРОМНЫЙ |
Korean | 상세불명의 홍채섬모체염, 홍채섬모체염 |
Polish | Zapalenie tęczówki i ciała rzęskowego |
Hungarian | Nem meghatározott iridocyclitis, Iridocyclitis |
Norwegian | Iridosyklitt |
Ontology: Iritis (C0022081)
Definition (NCI_FDA) | Inflammation of the iris. |
Definition (NCI) | Inflammation of the iris. |
Definition (MSH) | Inflammation of the iris characterized by circumcorneal injection, aqueous flare, keratotic precipitates, and constricted and sluggish pupil along with discoloration of the iris. |
Definition (CSP) | inflammation of the iris characterized by circumcorneal injection, aqueous flare, keratotic precipitates, and constricted and sluggish pupil along with discoloration of the iris. |
Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
MSH | D007500 |
SnomedCT | 65074000 |
English | Iritides, Iritis, iritis (diagnosis), iritis, iritis (physical finding), iritis was observed, Iritis [Disease/Finding], Iris inflammation, IRITIS, Iritis (disorder), Iritis, NOS |
French | IRITIS, Iritis |
Spanish | IRITIS, iritis (trastorno), iritis, Iritis |
German | IRITIS, Iritis |
Italian | Irite, Iridite |
Japanese | 虹彩炎, コウサイエン |
Swedish | Irisinflammation |
Czech | iritida, zánět duhovky, duhovka - zánět, Iritida |
Finnish | Värikalvotulehdus |
Russian | IRIT, ИРИТ |
Portuguese | IRITIS, Irite |
Polish | Zapalenie tęczówki |
Hungarian | Iritis |
Norwegian | Iritt, Regnbuehinnebetennelse |
Dutch | iritis, Iritis |
Ontology: Panuveitis (C0030343)
Definition (NCI) | A disorder characterized by inflammation of the entire uvea which includes the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. Causes include systemic infections, sarcoidosis, and cancers. |
Definition (MSH) | Inflammation in which both the anterior and posterior segments of the uvea are involved and a specific focus is not apparent. It is often severe and extensive and a serious threat to vision. Causes include systemic diseases such as tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, and syphilis, as well as malignancies. The intermediate segment of the eye is not involved. |
Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
MSH | D015864 |
ICD9 | 360.12 |
ICD10 | H44.11 |
SnomedCT | 75614007 |
English | Panuveitis, panuveitis (diagnosis), panuveitis, Panuveitis [Disease/Finding], Panuveitis (disorder), Diffuse uveitis |
Dutch | panuveïtis, Panuveitis |
Portuguese | Pan-uveíte, Pan-Uveíte |
Japanese | 全ブドウ膜炎, ゼンブドウマクエン |
Swedish | Panuveit |
Czech | panuveitida, Panuveitida |
Finnish | Panuveiitti |
Russian | PANUVEIT, ПАНУВЕИТ |
Spanish | Panuveítis, panuveítis (trastorno), panuveítis |
Croatian | Not Translated[Panuveitis] |
Polish | Zapalenie wszystkich części błony naczyniowej, Panuveitis |
Hungarian | Panuveitis |
Norwegian | Panuveitt |
German | Panuveitis |
Italian | Panuveite |
French | Uvéite totale, Panuvéite |
Ontology: Uveitis (C0042164)
Definition (CHV) | an inflammation of the uvea (middle part of the eye) |
Definition (NCI_CTCAE) | A disorder characterized by inflammation to the uvea of the eye. |
Definition (NCI) | An inflammatory process affecting a part of or the entire uvea. Causes include inflammatory agents (e.g., herpes simplex, herpes zoster, leptospirosis) and systemic diseases (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ankylosing spondylitis). Patients present with pain and redness in the eye, light sensitivity, and blurred and decreased vision. |
Definition (MSH) | Inflammation of part or all of the uvea, the middle (vascular) tunic of the eye, and commonly involving the other tunics (sclera and cornea, and the retina). (Dorland, 27th ed) |
Definition (CSP) | inflammation of part or all of the uvea, the middle (vascular) tunic of the eye, and commonly involving the other tunics (sclera and cornea, and the retina). |
Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
MSH | D014605 |
ICD10 | H20.9 |
SnomedCT | 193499001, 267719008, 155116005, 128473001, 75614007 |
English | Uveitides, Uveitis, uveitis (physical finding), uveitis, uveitis was present, Uveitis NOS, Uveitis [Disease/Finding], Uveal inflammation, uveitis (diagnosis), UVEITIS, Uveitis (disorder), uvea; inflammation, Uveitis, NOS, Intraocular inflammation |
French | UVEITE, Uvéite SAI, Uvéite |
Portuguese | UVEITE, Uveíte NE, Uveíte |
Spanish | UVEITIS, Uveítis NEOM, Uveítis, uveítis (trastorno), uveítis |
German | UVEITIS, Uveitis NNB, Uveitis |
Dutch | uveïtis NAO, uvea; ontsteking, uveïtis, Uveitis |
Italian | Uveite NAS, Uveite |
Japanese | ブドウ膜炎, ブドウ膜炎NOS, ブドウマクエン, ブドウマクエンNOS |
Swedish | Inflammation i ögats druvhinna |
Czech | uveitida, živnatka - zánět, Uveitida, Uveitida NOS |
Finnish | Suonikalvoston tulehdus |
Russian | UVEIT, УВЕИТ |
Croatian | UVEITIS |
Polish | Zapalenie błony naczyniowej |
Hungarian | Uveitis, Uveitis k.m.n. |
Norwegian | Uveabetennelse, Uveitt |
Ontology: Anterior uveitis (C0042165)
Definition (MSH) | Inflammation of the anterior uvea comprising the iris, angle structures, and the ciliary body. Manifestations of this disorder include ciliary injection, exudation into the anterior chamber, iris changes, and adhesions between the iris and lens (posterior synechiae). Intraocular pressure may be increased or reduced. |
Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
MSH | D014606 |
SnomedCT | 193500005, 231946008, 77971008, 410692006 |
English | Anterior Uveitides, Uveitides, Anterior, Uveitis, Anterior, Uveitis anterior, Anterior uveitis, Uveitis, Anterior [Disease/Finding], anterior uveitis, uveitis anterior, Anterior uveitis (diagnosis), Anterior uveitis, NOS, Anterior uveitis [Ambiguous], Anterior uveitis (disorder), Anterior Uveitis |
Dutch | voorste uveïtis, uveïtis anterior, Uveitis anterior |
German | anteriore Uveitis, Uveitis anterior |
Portuguese | Uveíte anterior, Uveíte Anterior |
Spanish | Uveítis anterior, Uveítis Anterior, uveítis anterior, uveítis anterior (trastorno) |
Japanese | 前部ブドウ膜炎, ゼンブブドウマクエン |
Swedish | Uveit, främre |
Czech | uveitida přední, Přední uveitida |
Finnish | Anteriorinen uveiitti |
Russian | UVEIT PEREDNII, УВЕИТ ПЕРЕДНИЙ |
Polish | Zapalenie błony naczyniowej przedniego odcinka, Zapalenie przedniego odcinka błony naczyniowej |
Hungarian | Uveitis anterior, Anterior uveitis |
Norwegian | Uveitis anterior, Fremre uveitt |
French | Uvéite antérieure |
Italian | Uveite anteriore |
Ontology: Uveitis, Intermediate (C0042166)
Definition (MSH) | Inflammation of the pars plana, ciliary body, and adjacent structures. |
Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
MSH | D015867 |
SnomedCT | 398322000, 308126005, 193491003, 155118006, 314429009 |
English | Chronic Cyclitis, Cyclitis, Chronic, Uveitis, Intermediate, Uveitis, Intermediate [Disease/Finding], chronic iritis, intermediate uveitis, iritis chronic, Chronic cyclitis (disorder), Intermediate uveitis, Intermediate uveitis (disorder), Chronic cyclitis, Peripheral uveitis, Chronic posterior cyclitis, Peripheral uveoretinitis, Intermediate Uveitis |
Dutch | perifere uveïtis, intermediaire uveïtis, Cyclitis, chronische, Intermediaire uveitis, Uveitis, intermediaire |
French | Uvéite périphérique, Cyclite chronique, Uvéite intermédiaire |
German | periphere Uveitis, intermediaere Uveitis, Zyklitis, chronische, Uveitis, intermediäre |
Italian | Uveite periferica, Ciclite cronica, Uveite intermedia |
Portuguese | Uveíte periférica, Uveíte intermédia, Ciclite Crônica, Uveíte Intermediária |
Spanish | Uveítis periférica, Uveítis Intermedia, ciclitis crónica, ciclitis crónica (trastorno), uveítis intermedia (trastorno), uveítis intermedia, Uveítis intermedia, Ciclitis Crónica |
Japanese | 周辺部ブドウ膜炎, シュウヘンブブドウマクエン, チュウカンブブドウマクエン, ブドウ膜炎-中間部, 中間部ブドウ膜炎, 中間部ぶどう膜炎, 中間部葡萄膜炎, 慢性毛様体炎, 葡萄膜炎-中間部, ぶどう膜炎-中間部, 毛様体扁平部炎 |
Swedish | Uveit, mellanliggande |
Czech | uveitida intermediální, Intermediární uveitida, Periferní uveitida |
Finnish | Intermediaaninen uveiitti |
Russian | UVEIT INTERMEDIAL'NYI, TSIKLIT KHRONICHESKII, УВЕИТ ИНТЕРМЕДИАЛЬНЫЙ, ЦИКЛИТ ХРОНИЧЕСКИЙ |
Polish | Zapalenie błony naczyniowej części pośredniej, Zapalenie części pośredniej błony naczyniowej |
Hungarian | Intermedier uveitis, Peripheriás uveitis |
Norwegian | Intermediær uveitt |
Ontology: Uveitis, Posterior (C0042167)
Definition (NCI) | An inflammatory process that affects the choroid. |
Definition (MSH) | Inflammation of the choroid as well as the retina and vitreous body. Some form of visual disturbance is usually present. The most important characteristics of posterior uveitis are vitreous opacities, choroiditis, and chorioretinitis. |
Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
MSH | D015866 |
SnomedCT | 193451001, 43363007, 46627006 |
English | Uveitis, Posterior, Posterior uveitis NOS, Uveitis, Posterior [Disease/Finding], posterior uveitis, Posterior uveitis NOS (disorder), Posterior uveitis (diagnosis), uveitis posterior, Posterior uveitis, Posterior uveitis (disorder), Posterior uveitis, NOS, Posterior Uveitis, Uveitis, posterior NOS |
Swedish | Uveit, bakre |
Czech | uveitida zadní, Zadní uveitida |
Finnish | Posteriorinen uveiitti |
Russian | UVEIT ZADNII, УВЕИТ ЗАДНИЙ |
Spanish | Uveítis Posterior, uveítis posterior, SAI (trastorno), uveítis posterior, SAI, Uveítis posterior, uveítis posterior (trastorno), uveítis posterior |
Croatian | Not Translated[Uveitis, Posterior] |
Polish | Zapalenie błony naczyniowej tylnego odcinka, Zapalenie tylnego odcinka błony naczyniowej |
Norwegian | Uveitis posterior, Bakre uveitt |
Dutch | uveïtis posterior, Uveitis posterior |
German | posteriore Uveitis, Uveitis posterior |
Hungarian | Posterior uveitis |
Japanese | コウブブドウマクエン, 後部ブドウ膜炎 |
Portuguese | Uveíte posterior, Uveíte Posterior |
French | Uvéite postérieure |
Italian | Uveite posteriore |
Ontology: Neuroretinitis (C0154874)
Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
MSH | D012173 |
ICD10 | H30.9 |
SnomedCT | 410471004 |
Dutch | neuroretinitis |
German | Neuroretinitis |
Italian | Neuroretinite |
Portuguese | Neurorretinite |
Spanish | Neuroretinitis, neurorretinitis, neurorretinitis (trastorno) |
Japanese | 視神経網膜炎, シシンケイモウマクエン |
Czech | neuroretinitida, Neuroretinitida |
French | Neurorétinite |
English | neuroretinitis (diagnosis), neuroretinitis, Neuroretinitis NOS, Neuroretinitis (disorder), Papilloretinitis, Neuroretinitis |
Hungarian | Neuroretinitis |
Norwegian | Nevroretinitt |
Ontology: Keratic precipitates (C0423285)
Concepts | Finding (T033) |
SnomedCT | 193767008, 155155006, 267730006, 246998009 |
Dutch | hoornachtige bezinksels |
French | Précipités |
German | keratische Praezipitate |
Italian | Precipitati corneali |
Portuguese | Precipitados queráticos |
Spanish | Precipitado querático, precipitados queráticos (hallazgo), precipitados queráticos |
Japanese | 角膜後面沈着物, カクマクコウメンチンチャクブツ |
Czech | Rohovkové precipitáty |
Hungarian | Szaruhártya precipitatumok |
English | Keratitic precipitates, Corneal precipitates, KP - Keratic precipitates, Keratic precipitates, Keratic precipitates (finding) |