Uveitis refers to inflammation of which ocular structures?

• A. Uveal tract: iris, ciliary body, and choroid
• B. Retina only
• C. Cornea and sclera
• D. Optic nerve

Answer: (A)

Uveitis is inflammation of the uveal tract, the vascular, pigmented middle layer of the eye. This tract includes three parts: the iris (the colored part that controls the pupil), the ciliary body (which produces aqueous humor and helps focus the lens), and the choroid (the vascular layer that nourishes the outer retina). When any of these structures are inflamed, we call it uveitis. There are different forms depending on which part is involved—anterior uveitis affects the iris and often the ciliary body, posterior uveitis affects the choroid (and sometimes the retina), and pan-uveitis involves all of them. The retina, cornea and sclera, or optic nerve are separate structures, so inflammation there would be retinitis, keratitis/scleritis, or optic neuritis, not uveitis.