Eye Health Guide · ORINvue
Uveitis (Inflammation Inside the Eye)
Hindi / common name: Uveitis (aankh ke andar sujan (uvea ki sujan))
Uveitis is inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye that includes the iris, ciliary body and choroid. It can affect one or both eyes and may come on suddenly or slowly. Uveitis is less common than conjunctivitis but more serious: without proper treatment it can lead to glaucoma, cataract, retinal swelling and permanent vision loss. It always needs an ophthalmologist's care.
Symptoms of uveitis
- Red eye, often with redness concentrated around the coloured part (iris)
- Eye pain or ache
- Strong sensitivity to light
- Blurred vision
- Floaters, especially in intermediate or posterior uveitis
- Sometimes few symptoms apart from blurred vision or floaters
Causes and risk factors
- Autoimmune and inflammatory conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid and juvenile arthritis, sarcoidosis and inflammatory bowel disease
- Infections such as tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, herpes and syphilis
- Eye injury or surgery
- Some medicines
- In many people no specific cause is found
How it is diagnosed
An ophthalmologist diagnoses uveitis with a slit-lamp examination, looking for inflammatory cells inside the eye, and a dilated retina examination. Eye pressure is measured. Blood tests, chest X-ray and other investigations may be ordered to look for underlying causes, sometimes with a physician or rheumatologist.
Treatment options
- Steroid eye drops, prescribed and monitored by an eye doctor
- Dilating drops to relieve pain and prevent the iris sticking to the lens
- Steroid injections or tablets for deeper inflammation
- Immunosuppressive or biologic medicines for recurring or severe cases
- Treatment of any infection causing it
- Regular follow-up to watch eye pressure and complications
Glasses and lens options
Glasses do not treat uveitis. Light sensitivity can be eased with sunglasses or photochromic lenses during recovery. Wait until your doctor confirms the inflammation is controlled before updating your spectacle power.
Prevention and everyday care
- Uveitis often cannot be prevented
- If you have an autoimmune condition, report any red or painful eye early
- Never stop or taper steroid drops on your own
- Attend all follow-up appointments
When to see an eye specialist the same day
- Painful red eye with light sensitivity and blurred vision
- Sudden increase in floaters
- Rapidly decreasing vision
- A red eye that does not improve within a day or two
Uveitis in Lucknow
Not every red eye in Lucknow is 'aankh aana'. A red eye with pain, light sensitivity or blurred vision needs an eye doctor's examination, not drops from the chemist.
How ORINvue can help
A painful red eye with light sensitivity or blur is best seen promptly by an eye specialist. Once your eye is quiet and stable, every eye test at ORINvue is done by our qualified optometrist, Khushboo Gangwar, a complete 10–15 minute check, free with every package, with spectacles or photochromic lenses from ₹999 all-inclusive.
Book Free Eye TestFrequently asked questions about Uveitis
Is uveitis the same as conjunctivitis?
No. Conjunctivitis affects the eye's surface and usually is not painful. Uveitis is inflammation inside the eye, often painful with light sensitivity, and needs urgent treatment.
Can uveitis cause blindness?
If untreated or repeatedly uncontrolled, uveitis can cause vision loss through glaucoma, cataract or retinal damage. Proper treatment greatly reduces this risk.
Is uveitis contagious?
Uveitis itself is not contagious, even when an infection is the underlying cause inside the body.
Will uveitis come back?
Some people have a single episode; others have recurrences. Early treatment of each episode protects vision.
Why do I need blood tests for an eye problem?
Uveitis can be linked to conditions elsewhere in the body, such as arthritis or tuberculosis, so tests help find and treat the cause.
Explore more: Eye Health Guide (all conditions) · Optical & spectacles questions answered · ORINvue blog
Book a free eye test at ORINvue
Every eye test is done by our qualified optometrist, Khushboo Gangwar, free with every spectacle package. Opening December 2026 in Kalyanpur, Vikas Nagar, Lucknow. Open daily 10 AM–10 PM.
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