Uveitis (pronounced you-vee-EYE-tis) is inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of your eye. The eye is shaped much like a tennis ball, with three different layers of tissue surrounding a central gel-filled cavity.

The innermost layer is the retina, which senses light and helps to send images to your brain. The middle layer between the sclera and retina is called the uvea. The outermost layer is the sclera, the strong white wall of the eye.

What is the Importance of the Uvea?
The uvea contains many blood vessels, the veins and arteries that carry blood flow to the eye. Since it nourishes many important parts of the eye (such as the retina), inflammation of the uvea can damage your sight.

Uveitis may come on suddenly with redness and pain, or sometimes with a painless blurring of your vision.

A case of simple "red eye" may in fact be a serious problem of uveitis. If you eye becomes red or painful, and doesn't clear up quickly, you should be examined and treated by Dr. Omphroy.