Definition

Posterior uveitis is inflammation of the back segment of the uvea. The uvea is the middle layer of the eye. Posterior uveitis affects the retina and choroid, which are layers found in the back of the eye. The retina has the rods and cones that allow you to see.

It is a potentially serious condition. It requires care from your doctor to prevent vision loss.

Causes

Posterior uveitis may be caused by infection or by autoimmune disorders. It may also appear as a result of an infection in the past.

Risk Factors

Factors that may increase your chance of posterior uveitis include:

• Autoimmune disorders, such as:
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Sacrcoidosis
  • Polyarteritis nodosa
  • Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
• Infections, such as:
  • Lyme disease
  • Syphilis
  • Tuberculosis
  • Congenital toxoplasmosis
  • Congenital rubella
  • Congenital cytomegalovirus
  • HIV/AIDS
• Weak immune status
• Exposure to pets, raw or undercooked meat, or contaminated water
• HLA-A29 gene

Symptoms

Posterior uveitis may cause:

• Redness in the eye
• Blurred or loss of vision
• Seeing floating objects in your vision
• Sensitivity to light or glare
• Excessive tearing
• Sensation of sparks or flashes of light
• Impaired night vision
• Impaired color vision
• Distortion of objects

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.

To prepare for a complete eye exam, drops may be put in your eyes to numb them and to dilate your pupils. The slit lamp, a special microscope to examine the eye, will focus a high powered beam of light into your eye to examine the cornea and other eye structures. The doctor may measure the pressure in your eyes.

Your bodily fluids may be tested to determine a possible cause. This can be done with blood tests.

Treatment

Most often treatment will focus on relieving the symptoms of posterior uveitis until it goes away. It is important to follow treatment recommendations to prevent complications or recurrence.

Focus may be on treating the underlying cause.

Prevention

There are no current guidelines to prevent posterior uveitis.

National Eye Institute http://www.nei.nih.gov

Canadian Association of Optometrists http://www.opto.ca

Facts about uveitis. National Eye Institute (NEI) website. Available at: https://nei.nih.gov/health/uveitis/uveitis. Updated August 2011. Accessed June 11, 2015.

Lanzafame M, Trevenzoli M, Vento S, Parrinello A. Clinical picture: Tuberculous chorioretinitis. Lancet. 2001;357(9266):1390.

Posterior uveitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed
Updated December 12, 2014. Accessed June 11, 2015.

Yang MB. Patient complains of blurry vision in right eye for 2 weeks. Ophthalmology Times. 1997;22(12):18-20.

1/28/2011 DynaMed’s Systematic Literature Surveillance
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