Uveitis

The macula lutea is the yellow oval spot at the center of the (back of the eye). It is responsible for sharp, detailed central vision (also called visual acuity).

Ankylosing spondylitis is a long-term disease that causes inflammation of the joints between the spinal bones, and the joints between the spine and pelvis. It eventually causes the affected spinal bones to join together. See also:

Kawasaki disease is a rare condition in children that involves inflammation of the blood vessels.

The choroid is the layer of blood vessels and connective tissue between the (white of the eye) and . It is part of the and supplies nutrients to the inner parts of the eye. Inflammation of the choroid is called .

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term disease that leads to inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. It can also affect other organs.

The ciliary body is the structure in the eye that releases a transparent liquid (called the aqueous humor) within the eye. The ciliary body also contains the ciliary muscle, which changes the shape of the lens when your eyes focus on something. This process is called accomodation.

An autoimmune disorder is a condition that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue. There are more than 80 different types of autoimmune disorders. See also:

There are many types of eye problems and visual disturbances. These include blurred vision, halos, blind spots, floaters, and other symptoms. Blurred vision is the loss of sharpness of vision and the inability to see small details. Blind spots (scotomas) are dark “holes” in the visual ...

Glaucoma refers to a group of eye conditions that lead to damage to the optic nerve, the nerve that carries visual information from the eye to the brain. In many cases, damage to the optic nerve is due to increased pressure in the eye, also known as intraocular pressure (IOP).

Psoriasis is a common skin condition that causes skin redness and irritation. Most people with psoriasis have thick, red skin with flaky, silver-white patches called . See also:

The retina is the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye. It acts like the film in a camera — images come through the eye’s lens and are focused on the retina. The retina then converts these images to electric signals and sends them via the optic nerve to the ...

Toxoplasmosis is an infection due to the parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is a viral inflammation of the retina of the eye.

Sarcoidosis is a disease in which swelling (inflammation) occurs in the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, eyes, skin, or other tissues.

Reactive arthritis is a group of inflammatory conditions that involves the joints, urethra, and eyes. There may also be sores (lesions) on the skin and mucus membranes.

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial infection that involves the lungs, but may spread to other organs.

Histoplasmosis is an infection due to the Histoplasma capsulatum fungus.

The uvea is the middle layer of the eye beneath the white part of the eye (the ). It consists of the , , and . These structures control many of the functions of the eye such as adjusting to different levels of light or different distances of objects.

Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects the lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. See also:

AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the final stage of , which causes severe damage to the immune system.

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. This article focuses on cataracts in adults. For information on cataracts in children, see:

The iris is the colored portion of the eye located between the cornea and lens. The iris’ round, central opening (the pupil) contracts and dilates to control the entrance of light into the eye, allowing you to see well under a variety of lighting conditions.

Systemic means “affecting the entire body,” rather than a single organ or body part. For example, systemic disorders such as or systemic diseases such as affect the entire body. An infection that is in the bloodstream is called a systemic infection. An infection that affects only ...

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful, blistering skin rash due to the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox. See also:

Retinal detachment is a separation of the light-sensitive membrane in the back of the eye (the retina) from its supporting layers.

The sclera is the white outer wall of the eye. It is a tough, fibrous tissue that extends from the cornea (the clear front section of the eye) to the optic nerve at the back of the eye. The sclera gives the eye its white color.

Syphilis is infection with the bacteria Treponema pallidum.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) esophagitis is a viral infection of the esophagus, the muscular tube through which food travels from the mouth to the stomach. See also: