Consultation with the Specialist
Uveitis
David M. Siegel MD, MPH1
1 Co-Director, Pediatric Rheumatology, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY.
Introduction
Inflammation involving any part of the uveal tract (iris, ciliary body, and choroid) is described as uveitis. Adjacent ocular structures, including the retina, vitreous, and optic nerve, may be affected as well. The term uveitis is derived from the Latin uva, or "grape," due to the similarity in appearance between the bluish vein structure visible in a peeled blue grape and the middle vascular layer of the eye, the uvea. Within the broader term of uveitis are more specific designations, depending on the anatomic area involved. Thus, inflammation of the iris is called iritis, inflammation of the ciliary body is called cyclitis, and both occurring together is termed iridocyclitis. These latter structures, along with the anterior choroid, share a common blood supply and, if affected, tend to be inflamed together. Such inflammation can be referred to as anterior uveitis. Posterior uveitis describes inflammation of the posterior choroid (choroiditis), the retina (retinitis), or both (chorioretinitis). When the middle portion of the eye is involved (primarily retinal vessels and the peripheral portions of the retina and uveal tract), the condition is described as intermediate uveitis. This term has replaced other labels that appear in the literature, including chronic cyclitis, peripheral uveitis, and pars planitis.
