Why Uveitis, a rare form of eye inflammation, should not be neglected

Uveitis is a rare eye condition that involves inflammation of the middle layers of the eye.

Most patients tend to consult pharmacists for over-the-counter eye drops to treat a red eye. But ophthalmologists caution that not all cases could be that of conjunctivitis or allergy and so medical help should be sought as this can be a sign of uveitis – a rare eye condition that involves inflammation of the middle layers of the eye. “This can be a serious problem if neglected,” said Dr Aditya Kelkar, Director of National Institute of Ophthalmology who recently held a symposium with Poona Ophthalmic Society on the issue.

Majority cases are of auto immune origin

More than 150 eye surgeons in and around Pune gathered for this one-day event as data indicates that nearly 1 in 200 adults ≥40 years of age in India have been affected by ocular inflammation. “We wanted to create awareness about the newer trends in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and hence jointly organised a symposium on the topic of uveitis. The uveal tract is the vascular middle coat of the eye ball. Inflammation of the uveal tract is called uveitis. “The cause is often unknown and in majority of the cases this is of auto immune origin,” Dr Kelkar said.

If left untreated, may permanently damage vision

Symptoms of uveitis may include redness and irritation in the eye, blurred vision, eye pain, increased sensitivity to light and according to the ophthalmologist if left untreated, uveitis may permanently damage one’s vision. “Ophthalmologists who take care of patients with Uveitis do so in close coordination with other specialities in medicine such as rheumatology, infectious disease specialists, internists,” an expert said. The main hurdles during the treatment of uveitis include non-compliance and patients who do not follow up with the doctor, presumptions about the side effects of the treatment, false notions and failure to follow up because of logistics and routine monitoring.

Newer Diagnostics

– Wide filed retinal imaging, OCT have revolutionised the diagnosis of this condition and these tests are non-expensive and non-invasive. The medical management of patients with uveitis involves continuous monitoring/control of their ocular inflammation which may require systemic treatment with drugs such as steroids and immune-suppressives. Newer agents called as biologics are relatively safe compared to steroids and have recently been found to be effective in management of uveitis.

Dr Parthopratim Dutta Mujumdar from Chennai Sankara Netralaya, Dr Reema Bansal who have done pioneering work in this field were the guest faculty while Dr Mandar Paranjpe, president of Poona Ophthalmology Society, Dr Aniruddha Tembe, Dr Ketan Jathar, Dr Nikhil Labhsetwar and Dr Kelkar were the local faculty members.

Experts said the condition needs close monitoring of the systemic disease in conjunction with the physicians. Management of uveitis with complicated cataract requires a specialised surgery while uveitis with glaucoma, uveitis with vitreoretinal complications are handled in close cooperation with specialised consultants in the respective fields.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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