A clear, compassionate guide to protecting your vision from within.
What Exactly Is Uveitis?
Uveitis is a condition many people haven’t heard of until it affects them. It refers to inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye responsible for supplying blood to key parts of the visual system. But the condition doesn’t stop there. Uveitis can also impact the retina, vitreous, and optic nerve, leading to blurred vision, eye pain, floaters, and, if not diagnosed early, permanent vision loss.
Why Uveitis Should Never Be Ignored
At Dr. Pooja Khetarpal’s Eye Clinic, we often see patients who’ve been living with red, uncomfortable eyes and subtle vision changes, attributing it to “strain” or “dryness.” But uveitis is not just an eye irritation, it’s an inflammatory eye disease that may signal something deeper happening within the body, such as an autoimmune disorder or latent infection. Sometimes, however, it occurs with no known cause at all.
Recognizing the Symptoms
The symptoms of uveitis tend to develop suddenly. Patients describe their eyes as red and sore, with a dull ache that doesn’t go away. Many experiences blurred or hazy vision, sensitivity to light, and those tell-tale floating black spots known as floaters. Some even report trouble focusing or a shadow moving across their visual field. Depending on which part of the eye is affected, the symptoms may vary in severity and speed of onset.
Types of Uveitis: Not All Inflammation Is the Same
Uveitis is broadly classified into four types. When the inflammation occurs in the front of the eye, specifically the iris and ciliary body, it’s known as anterior uveitis, the most common form. When the vitreous or peripheral retina is involved, we call it intermediate uveitis. Posterior uveitis affects the retina and choroid and tends to be more complex, while panuveitis involves inflammation throughout the entire uveal tract. Each type requires a tailored approach, not just in diagnosis but in long-term management.
Understanding the Causes
What causes uveitis? That’s where things get nuanced. In some patients, it’s linked to systemic autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or ankylosing spondylitis. In others, it’s triggered by infections such as tuberculosis, herpes viruses, toxoplasmosis, or syphilis. Trauma, prior eye surgery, or even certain cancers can also be responsible. And then there are cases where we find no specific cause, which we refer to as idiopathic uveitis.
Diagnosis: Seeing the Full Picture
Diagnosing uveitis begins with a detailed eye examination. Using slit lamp biomicroscopy, retinal imaging, and optical coherence tomography (OCT), we assess the extent and depth of inflammation. In many cases, we also recommend blood tests or chest X-rays to uncover underlying systemic conditions. Uveitis is one of those conditions that often requires collaboration with rheumatologists, infectious disease experts, and other specialists, especially when it reflects something systemic.
How We Treat Uveitis
Once diagnosed, the priority is to control inflammation quickly and prevent complications. Treatment typically starts with corticosteroid eye drops, particularly in anterior uveitis. If the inflammation is deeper, oral medications or even local steroid injections around the eye may be necessary. In chronic or recurrent cases, especially those associated with autoimmune conditions, immunosuppressive drugs may be added to the regimen. If infection is the cause, targeted antibiotics or antiviral medications are prescribed alongside anti-inflammatory agents.
In rare but severe cases, surgical intervention such as vitrectomy may be required to remove inflammatory debris or to manage complications like retinal detachment. Our approach is always conservative first, but proactive where needed.
Is Uveitis Curable?
Many patients ask if uveitis can be cured. The honest answer is: it depends. Some cases are short-lived and resolve completely with treatment. Others, especially those linked to chronic systemic conditions, may require long-term management to keep inflammation under control. But with early diagnosis, careful follow-up, and personalized care, most patients retain good vision and quality of life.
The Risks of Delayed Treatment
What makes uveitis particularly dangerous is not just the inflammation, but the delay in addressing it. Without treatment, uveitis can lead to glaucoma, cataracts, macular swelling, or even permanent damage to the optic nerve. That’s why recognizing symptoms early, persistent redness, floaters, blurring, or eye pain, and consulting an eye specialist is critical.
Your Partner in Uveitis Care
At Khetarpal Hospital, our goal is not just to treat the eye, but to understand the person behind it. We believe in combining clinical expertise with patient education, helping individuals manage uveitis with clarity and confidence. Every treatment plan is built around the patient’s unique presentation, underlying conditions, and visual goals.
If you’ve been experiencing unexplained eye redness, vision changes, or floaters that won’t go away, don’t wait. Uveitis may be silent, but its consequences don’t have to be.
Schedule your consultation with Dr. Pooja Khetarpal today
Your vision deserves proactive care, and we’re here to help you protect it, one step at a time.