aetiology

Last reviewed 12/2022

  • idiopathic - most common cause of acute anterior uveitis

  • autoimmune:
    • ankylosing spondylitis (HLA B27)
    • chronic stage of Reiter's disease
    • sarcoidosis
    • Behcet's disease (HLA B5)
    • juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
    • ulcerative colitis
    • Crohn's disease
    • lens - induced uveitis
    • psoriasis

N.B. In the UK, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's disease and sarcoidosis are the most common causes of acute anterior uveitis. Sarcoidosis is also the most common cause of a chronic presentation. About 20% of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis develop chronic anterior uveitis.

  • infections, particularly:
    • syphilis
    • tuberculosis
    • herpes simplex / zoster
    • adenovirus

  • malignancy:
    • retinoblastoma
    • leukaemia
    • lymphoma
    • malignant melanoma

  • other:
    • trauma
    • retinal detachment
    • Fuch's heterochromic iridocyclitis (1)

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