What is Uveitis?

Uveitis is a term for several eye conditions that all result in chronic inflammation of the eye. Uveitis can be of infectious or autoimmune (your own body fighting itself) origin and is generally classified by the part of the eye that is affected. Anterior uveitis affects the front of the eye, intermediate and posterior uveitis affect the back of the eye and panuveitis affects all parts of the eye.

Uveitis can affect one or both eyes. Symptoms may develop rapidly and can include: decreased vision, blurred vision, eye pain, redness of the eye, floaters, and sensitivity to light.

Experts estimate that 10-22% of new cases of blindness in the United States are caused by Uveitis. Each year this approximately results in 30,000 cases of blindness. In the U.S. alone, approximately 350,000 people suffer from uveitis; of these, approximately 130,000 are afflicted with the more severe forms, intermediate, posterior and panuveitis.

 

For more information about the Uveitis Research Study, please click here.