In more than a third of all cases of anterior uveitis, the exact cause is unknown. Causes may include:
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that mainly affects the spine. This can cause recurrent arthritis.
Reiter’s syndrome is an inflammatory arthritis common in young men – often caused by chlamydia infection.
Psoriatic arthropathy is a form of arthritis that nearly a quarter of people with psoriasis may develop. It causes pain, swelling and stiffness in joints. Psoriasis is an immune-related disease of the skin and joints.
Inflammatory bowel disease causes inflammation, ulcers and scarring to the wall of the intestine but can affect other parts of the body as well.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is a kind of arthritis (inflammation of the joints) in children, affecting more than 75,000 children in the U.S. Uveitis is the most common eye problem that can develop in children with JRA. Children with JRA may get uveitis before JRA is even diagnosed, or it can occur many years later.
Herpes is a common viral infection that causes oral or genital herpes. It mostly affects only one eye, but it can cause recurrent uveitis.
Sarcoidosis is a kind of inflammation that can affect many parts of the body. Its cause is unknown.
Fuch’s heterochromic iridocyclitis is a chronic kind of iritis. Its cause is unknown. It may cause rapid increase in eye pressure, requiring immediate treatment.
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects different parts of the body, including the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys and is related to the body’s immune system.
Intraocular lens surgically implanted to replace a cataract lens. Uveitis can be caused by trauma related to cataract surgery. In cataract surgery, the eye’s natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial (plastic) lens. The presence of this artificial lens can cause anterior uveitis.
Posner-Schlossman syndrome (PSS) is an uncommon inflammatory eye condition that usually affects one eye at a time. It typically affects young to middle-aged adults who develop high pressure inside the eye and mild inflammation.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation of the joints that can cause permanent joint damage and disability.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease. It can be cured, but if left untreated, the late stages of the disease can cause heart problems, abnormalities, mental illness, blindness and death. Although on the decline over the past decade, it has seen more cases in recent years.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria that usually attacks the lungs. TB disease was once the leading cause of death in the United States. It is spread through the air from one person to another. Although treatable, TB is still a problem in the U.S.
Lyme disease is a disease caused by bacteria that are transmitted to people from the bite of a deer tick. It often causes a "bull's-eye" rash around the bite, with symptoms such as fever, tiredness, headache, muscle and joint aches.
