Uveitis

Question 1

What is uveitis?

Answer 1

Inflammation of the INSIDE/MIDDLE of the eye. The uvea includes the Iris, ciliary body and the choroid (the tissues that supplies the retina with blood).

(As opposed to scleritis or conjunctivitis which is inflammation on the surface of the eye).

Question 2

What is uveitis?

Answer 2

Inflammation of the INSIDE of the eye.

(As opposed to scleritis or conjunctivitis which is inflammation on the surface of the eye).

Question 3

What part of the eye make up the ‘anterior chamber’?

Answer 3

Anterior chamber = cornea and aqueous humor

Question 4

What muscle lies behind the Iris and helps the lens focus light?

Answer 4

Ciliary body

Question 5

What ‘jelly-like substance’ does light travel through when coming from the lens to the retina?

Answer 5

Vitreous humor

Question 6

What is the name of the ‘centre of the retina’ which is key to your vision, helping process central vision?

Answer 6

Macula

Question 7

What layer provides blood supply to the retina?

Answer 7

Choroid

Question 8

What layer provides blood supply to the retina?

Answer 8

Choroid

Question 9

What is the epidemiology of uveitis? What age group is typically affected?

Answer 9

Uveitis can affect anyone, from kids to the elderly. However usually younger working-age people are affected by uveitis - approximately 20-60 years old..

Question 10

How is uveitis classified anatomically?

Answer 10

Anterior, intermediate, posterior or panuveitis.

Question 11

How is uveitis classified anatomically?

Answer 11

Anterior, intermediate, posterior or panuveitis.

Question 12

What type of uveitis is most common?

Answer 12

Anterior uveitis (accounts for ~50% of uveitis cases).

Question 13

What conditions cause anterior uveitis?

Answer 13

Causes of Anterior Uveitis

Rheumatological:
- Spondylitis
- HLA-B27 associated anterior uveitis
- JIA-associated anterior uveitis
- Sarcoidosis
- Bechets

Infectious:
- Herpes zoster

Question 14

What conditions cause intermediate uveitis?

Answer 14

Intermediate uveitis affects the vitreous humor in the middle of the inside of the eye.

Causes of Intermediate Uveitis:
* Infectious
- Lyme disease
* Non-Infectious
- Multiple sclerosis
- Sarcoidosis

Question 15

What is the least common type of uveitis?

Answer 15

Intermediate uveitis

Question 16

What part of the eye is affected by anterior uveitis?

Answer 16

Ciliary body, Iris, aqueous humor.

Question 17

What part of the eye is affected by posterior uveitis?

Answer 17

Choroid

Question 18

What type of uveitis has the poorest prognosis?

Answer 18

Posterior uveitis - because it damages parts of the eye which are critical for vision - I.e. retina, macula and the optic nerve.

Question 19

What causes posterior uveitis?

Answer 19

Causes of Posterior Uveitis
Non-Infectious Causes:
- Sarcoidosis
- Bechets
Infectious
- Toxoplasmosis
- Syphilis
Birdshot uveitis

Question 20

What causes posterior uveitis?

Answer 20

Causes of Posterior Uveitis
Non-Infectious Causes:
- Sarcoidosis
- Bechets
Infectious
- Toxoplasmosis
- Syphilis
Birdshot uveitis

Question 21

What causes panuveitis?

Answer 21

Non-infectious:
- Sarcoidosis
- Bechet’s
Infectious:
- Syphilis
- TB (NB - very uncommon in North America)

Question 22

Iritis is another name for what type of uveitis?

Answer 22

Anterior uveitis

Question 23

What us another name for iritis?

Answer 23

Anterior uveitis

Question 24

What type of uveitis is usually most symptomatic?

Answer 24

Anterior uveitis is usually most symptomatic (particularly when it happens acutely). Patients will complain if pain, red eyes and blurry vision. However, interestingly, symptoms can decrease with recurrent episodes, and in patients with chronic uveitis (e.g. JIA-associated uveitis) these episodes can be asymptomatic.