UVEITIS

Uveitis - inflammation of the uveal tract may be due to:-

(a) Autoimmune reactions: for most cases of iritis and cyclitis, no cause
is found, but the inflammation is considered to be a complex, immune
response.

(b) Infections from micro-organisms which reach the iris by: -
- Associated with local viral infections - herpes simplex, herpes zoster
ophthalmicus.
- Penetrating wounds of the eyeball.
- Post-operative, especially cataract extraction (early) or via thin, filtering
blebs (late).
- General infection - syphilis, gonorrhea, tuberculosis (very rare).

(c) Associated with some types of arthritis e.g. juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
(Still's disease), ankylosing spondylitis.

(d) Toxins or poisonous substances derived from septic foci elsewhere in the
body e.g. teeth, tonsils, sinuses, chest. These causes are subject to
much dispute and doubt.