Diagnosis and Management of Ocular Inflammatory Disease

Uveitis, strictly defined, represents inflammation of the uveal tract, which includes the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. However, the term uveitis, as used by clinicians, is more commonly an all-encompassing term for inflammation anywhere within the eye. To illustrate this point, ocular toxoplasmosis, the most common cause of posterior “uveitis” in North America, is actually a primary “retinitis” and therefore would not be considered a true uveitis. Scleritis, a disease commonly managed by uveitis specialists, is technically not a uveitis, as the sclera is not a uveal tract component.