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Uveitis: the internal eye inflammation to take seriously
Last updated: 20 August 2026
Most red eyes are harmless. Uveitis is the main exception: an inflammation inside the eye that can do damage untreated, but is usually well extinguished with timely drops. The difference lies — as so often with eyes — in a short list of symptoms worth knowing.
In short
- Uveitis is inflammation of the eye's internal vascular layer (iris, ciliary body and/or choroid).
- Typical for the anterior form: a painful, deep-red, light-shy eye with somewhat reduced vision — often one-sided.
- Unlike conjunctivitis: no pus or sticking, but pain and light sensitivity — which should be assessed the same day to within days.
- Treatment with anti-inflammatory and pupil-dilating drops works well; recurrent or bilateral uveitis warrants a search for an underlying cause.
⚠ Acute symptoms?Sudden vision loss, an eye injury, chemicals in the eye, severe pain, or new blind spots in your visual field? Don't wait for an online explanation — call your GP (huisarts), the out-of-hours GP service, or 112 immediately.
What exactly is uveitis?
The uvea is the middle layer of the eye: the iris at the front, the ciliary body behind it, and the choroid lying beneath the retina. Inflammation of (part of) this layer is called uveitis. By far the most common form is anterior uveitis (iridocyclitis): inflammation of iris and ciliary body. Intermediate and posterior forms also exist, involving the vitreous and retina — rarer and often stealthier, with floaters or blur rather than pain as the main complaint.
How do you recognise it — and distinguish it from 'ordinary' red?
The classic picture of anterior uveitis: one eye turning painful over a few days — a deep, aching pain, different from the superficial burning of irritated eyes — with redness concentrated around the coloured part of the eye, pronounced light sensitivity (even light shone into the other eye can hurt), watering without pus, and sometimes a smaller pupil or slightly blurred vision.
Set that beside conjunctivitis and the contrast is clear: conjunctivitis sticks and itches but causes no real pain and tolerates light normally. The rule from our red-eye guide fully applies: pain + light sensitivity + reduced vision = get assessed, preferably the same day or within days. Uveitis is readily confirmed with a slit-lamp examination: the ophthalmologist sees inflammatory cells floating in the eye's fluid.
Where does it come from?
In a sizeable share of people no cause is found — one episode responding well to treatment, never returning, is the whole story. In others the uveitis belongs to an underlying condition: joint and inflammatory diseases (such as the HLA-B27 trait with its associated back complaints, sarcoidosis, ankylosing spondylitis), infections (such as herpes viruses or toxoplasmosis) or, rarely, something else. Hence the rule: with repeated attacks, bilateral uveitis or complaints elsewhere in the body, targeted work-up follows, often together with a rheumatologist or internist. In children with juvenile arthritis, uveitis can smoulder without any complaint — which is why they receive standard eye monitoring.
How is it treated?
Anterior uveitis usually responds well to two kinds of drops: corticosteroid drops that quench the inflammation (initially often very frequent, then on a tapering schedule) and pupil-dilating drops that relax the internal eye muscle — relieving pain and preventing the inflamed iris from sticking to the lens. Taking the tapering schedule seriously is essential: stopping too early is the classic cause of a flare-up. For deeper or stubborn forms there are injections beside the eye, tablets and modern anti-inflammatory medicines.
Two things are watched during and after uveitis: the eye pressure (both the inflammation and corticosteroids can raise it) and signs of complications such as early cataract after repeated episodes. With timely treatment and faithful follow-up, most people retain no lasting damage.
Frequently asked questions
Is uveitis contagious?
No. It is an internal inflammatory reaction, not an outside infection you can pass on — sharing towels is fine (though inadvisable for other reasons).
My uveitis has now returned three times. What next?
Repeated episodes are the reason for investigating an underlying cause (blood tests, sometimes imaging) and for discussing maintenance treatment that prevents attacks rather than repeatedly extinguishing them.
May I wear contact lenses during uveitis?
During the inflammation and drop treatment, better not: the eye is irritated and frequent drops sit poorly with lenses. Discuss at follow-up when you can resume.
Can stress trigger uveitis?
Many people notice flare-ups coinciding with stressful periods, but hard evidence for stress as a cause is lacking. See stress reduction as supportive, not as treatment — the drops do the real work.
Sources and further reading
This article is general explanation, not medical advice about your situation. For acute symptoms: call your GP, the out-of-hours GP service, or 112.