BACKGROUND: Uveitis is a condition characterized by inflammation
in the eye. Specifically, the part of the eye known as the uveal
tract. The uveal tract is the middle layer of the eye that is
considered the nutritional layer because it is rich in blood
vessels. Uveitis has a number of subcategories depending on
which part of the uveal tract is inflamed. Because of its rich
blood supply, the uveal tract is a natural target for diseases
that start in other parts of the body. It can also be caused by
other problems within the eye, such as cataract or other changes
in the lens or ulcer. Symptoms of uveitis can be as simple and
vague as blinking, squinting or watery discharge from the eye,
or it can be as severe as total vision loss in that eye. In
uveitis, the cornea, which is normally clear, becomes blue and
hazy or dull. The cornea can also become cloudy and the white of
the eye can become red and swollen. The colored part of the eye
can even become red in some cases. In up to 75 percent of
uveitis cases, the c