How can uveitis lead to cataracts, glaucoma, or retinal detachment?

Uveitis, which is the inflammation of the uvea, can lead to several serious secondary eye conditions due to the inflammatory process itself or as a result of long-term corticosteroid treatment used to manage the disease.12

Mechanisms of Complications

• Cataracts: Inflammation can cause clouding of the lens, leading to cataract formation. This may occur as a direct consequence of chronic ocular inflammation or as a side effect of prolonged topical or systemic corticosteroid therapy.1
• Glaucoma: Uveitis can cause elevated intraocular pressure, which is a primary risk factor for glaucoma. This pressure increase often results from the inflammation blocking the eye's drainage channels or from the use of corticosteroids. Additionally, inflammation can cause adhesions between the iris and the lens (posterior synechiae), which may interfere with the normal flow of aqueous humour and trigger pressure spikes.13
• Retinal Detachment: Chronic inflammation can damage the structures of the eye, increasing the risk of retinal detachment. The inflammatory process may also lead to the formation of fluid-filled cystlike swellings on the retina, further compromising vision.1