Uveitis: What It Looks Like and What to Do

Uveitis is inflammation inside the eye. It can affect the iris, the middle layer (uvea), or the back of the eye. If you've got red, painful eyes, light sensitivity, floaters or sudden blurry vision, don't ignore it. Quick treatment makes a big difference for saving sight.

What causes uveitis?

Causes fall into three clear groups: infections, autoimmune problems, and injury. Infectious causes include herpes, toxoplasmosis, and syphilis. Autoimmune links include conditions like ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and sarcoidosis. A direct eye injury or even some medications can trigger inflammation. Sometimes doctors never find a clear cause — that's called idiopathic uveitis.

Age matters. Young adults often get anterior uveitis (front of the eye) and it can be sudden and painful. Posterior uveitis (back of the eye) often causes floaters and blurred vision and can be related to infections or autoimmune disease.

How uveitis is diagnosed and treated

Diagnosis starts with an eye exam: slit lamp to check the front of the eye, pupil reaction tests, and a dilated exam to see the retina. Your doctor may order blood tests, a chest X‑ray, or HLA-B27 testing if an autoimmune cause is suspected. If infection is possible, cultures or PCR tests may be used.

Treatment depends on the cause. For noninfectious uveitis the most common step is corticosteroid eye drops to reduce inflammation. If drops aren't enough, doctors may use oral steroids, steroid injections near the eye, or steroid‑sparing immunosuppressive drugs (methotrexate, mycophenolate, biologics) for long-term control. For infectious uveitis you’ll get specific antiviral, antibiotic, or antiparasitic medication first, then anti-inflammatory treatment as needed.

Follow-up matters. Uveitis can come back, and regular checks help catch complications early. If you notice more floaters, worsening blur, severe pain, or sudden vision loss, contact your eye doctor immediately.

Complications from uncontrolled uveitis include cataract, glaucoma, macular edema, and permanent vision loss. Many studies show that early, targeted treatment lowers the risk of these problems — so don't delay care.

Practical tips: keep scheduled eye visits, use drops exactly as prescribed, tell your doctor about any autoimmune diagnosis or recent infections, and protect your eyes from injury. If you're on long-term steroids, ask about bone and blood pressure checks — systemic side effects matter.

Want a quick checklist? See an eye specialist if you have eye pain, bright light hurts, new floaters, or sudden blurred vision. Tell your doctor about joint pain, rashes, or recent infections — those details help find the cause faster.

Uveitis can be scary, but most cases respond to treatment when caught early. Get checked, follow the plan, and keep a close relationship with your eye doctor to protect your sight.