Iritis (anterior uveitis)

What it is

Iritis affects the uvea at the front of the eye, especially the iris. It is the most common form of uveitis and is an inflammation inside the eye, not just on the surface.

Common symptoms

Symptoms often come on fairly quickly.

• Painful, red eye
• Marked light sensitivity
• Blurred or reduced vision
• Small or irregularly shaped pupil sometimes

Causes

It may be linked to autoimmune conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, or infection and injury. Sometimes no cause is found.

Treatment

Steroid eye drops are the main treatment, with follow-up to monitor pressure and inflammation. Delay increases the risk of complications. A red, painful, light-sensitive eye should not be assumed to be simple conjunctivitis.