The uvea involves the iris, ciliary body and choroid.

Anterior uveitis involves inflammation of the iris and ciliary body.

Aetiology and pathophysiology

Inflammation and immune cells in the anterior chamber of the eye.

The anterior chamber of the eye becomes infiltrated by neutrophils, lymphocytes and macrophages.

Inflammatory cells in the anterior chamber cause floaters in the patient’s vision.

Anterior uveitis can be acute or chronic. Chronic anterior uveitis is more granulomatous (has more macrophages) and has a less severe and longer duration of symptoms, lasting more than 3 months.

Aetiology:

usually caused by an autoimmune process but can be due to infection, trauma, ischaemia or malignancy.

Associations:

Acute anterior uveitis is associated with HLA B27 related conditions:

• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Reactive arthritis
• Psoratic arthritis

Chronic anterior uveitis is associated with:

• Sarcoidosis
• Syphilis
• Lyme disease