Uveitis

Considerations

Uveitis denotes inflammation of the uveal tract: the iris, ciliary body and choroid. Anterior uveitis is also known as iritis of iridocyclitis and affects the anterior chamber. Posterior uveitis is also known as chorioretinitis. Those conditions may be associated with systemic disease or infection.

Ref: Cecil Textbook of Medicine.

	Infectious causes	Systemic illnesses
Anterior uveitis (iridocyclitis)	Herpes zoster, zoster Hansen’s disease	Ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter’s syndrome, Rheumatoid arthritis
Posterior uveitis (chorioretinitis)	Toxoplasmosis, is, Toxacariasis Histoplasmosis, Measles
Both anterior and posterior	Syphilis, Coccidioidomycosis, Onchocerciasis, Brucellosis	Sarcoid, Behçet’s syndrome Inflammatory bowel disease

These conditions should be kept in mind when dealing with a case of uveitis, particularly if the condition is recurrent.

Information to be provided

An applicant who first apply with a history or uveitis should provide.

• A special eye report;
• A copy of all reports by the treating ophthalmologist;
• A copy of any other related illness or investigations reports. 

Disposition

• An applicant who presents with a history of recurrent uveitis should be considered as having a condition that is of aeromedical significance.

An applicant who presents with a history of iritis may be assessed as having a condition that is not of aeromedical significance if:

• The episode was a first and only episode, occurring more than 6 months ago;
• The condition has settled in full;
• No systemic illness has been identified.