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Iritis - Anterior uveitis

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Iritis or anterior uveitis is the inflammation of the frontal part of the uvea, including the colored part of the eye called the iris.

It is often due to systemic diseases, particularly autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, etc.), infections or exposure to toxic products.

It manifests as eye pain, redness, blurred vision, perception of patches in the field of vision and sensitivity to light.

Diagnosis is reached through clinical history and an eye examination with a slit lamp.

Treatment will depend on the cause, and is based on corticosteroids and pupil dilators when it is not caused by an infection, and on antibiotics when it is.

Bibliographic references
  1. James T Rosenbaum. Uveitis: Etiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis. UpToDate, Apr14, 2016.
  2. James T Rosenbaum. Uveitis: Treatment. UpToDate, Aug 03, 2016.
  3. Rothova A, Buitenhuis HJ, Meenken C, et al. Uveitis and systemic disease. Br J Ophthalmol 1992; 76:137.
  4. Yeh S, Forooghian F, Suhler EB. Implications of the Pacific Ocular Inflammation uveitis epidemiology study. JAMA 2014; 311:1912.
Author
Dr. Oscar Garcia-Esquirol
Copyright
© TeckelMedical 2026

Symptoms

    Redness in only one eye

    Bothered by light

    Red eye due to blood vessels

    Sudden loss of sight

    Total vision loss

Symptoms to watch out for

Loss of vision
Pain that does not subside with analgesics.
History of immunodeficiency (HIV, Diabetes Mellitus, oncological disorders, long-term corticosteroid consumption).

Self-care

Avoid rubbing your eyes.
Use sunglasses.
Take over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatories.
Consult with your primary care physician regarding the prescription of antibiotics.
Consult with your primary care physician regarding the prescription of glucocorticoid eye drops.
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