Ocular Inflammation and Immunology

Uveitis, or ocular inflammation, is inflammation of the uvea, which is the middle layer of the eye. The eye is shaped like a tennis ball, with three different layers of tissue surrounding a central gel-filled cavity.

The innermost layer is the retina, which senses light and helps to send images to the brain. The middle layer between the sclera and retina is called the uvea. The outermost layer is the sclera, which is the external white wall of the eye.

What is the importance of the uvea?
The uvea contains many blood vessels – veins and arteries that carry blood to the eye. Since it nourishes many important parts of the eye (such as the retina), inflammation of the uvea can damage your sight.

Are there different types of ocular inflammation?

A simple way for classifying types of ocular inflammation is according to the affected part of the eye:

• Episcleritis /Scleritis
• Anterior uveitis (also known as iritis or iridocyclitis)
• Intermediate uveitis (including pars planitis)
• Posterior uveitis (including retinitis, choroiditis, chorioretinitis and neuroretinitis)
• Panuveitis (when the whole eye is inflamed from anterior to posterior aspect)