Serious severity

Uveitis (Inflammation Inside the Eye)

Painful inflammation of the eye's inner, blood-rich layer that is often the first visible sign of a serious body-wide illness.

⚠️ Common symptoms

A cloudy, hazy or muddy-looking eyeRedness with a small, constricted pupilSquinting, tearing and sensitivity to lightA visibly swollen or discoloured irisPawing at the eye or holding it tightly shut

Uveitis means inflammation of the uvea — the eye's middle, blood-rich layer made up of the iris, ciliary body and choroid. Because this tissue is packed with blood vessels, it is one of the first places that body-wide infections, immune reactions and cancers announce themselves, which is why vets treat a case of uveitis as a clue to the whole cat's health, not just an eye problem.

Affected eyes look visibly wrong — cloudy or bloodshot, with a small pupil, a dull or colour-changed iris, and obvious discomfort such as squinting, tearing and avoidance of light. It is a genuinely painful condition, and cats hide pain well, so the outward signs are often subtler than the discomfort they feel.

Management always runs on two tracks. The vet works to quiet the inflammation quickly with medicated drops to save the eye and relieve pain, while simultaneously searching for the underlying cause through blood tests and blood-pressure checks. When the root disease is found and treated, the eye usually responds well — but delay risks secondary glaucoma and permanent loss of sight.

🔍 Causes

Uveitis is frequently a red flag for systemic disease. Infectious causes include feline leukaemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus, feline infectious peritonitis, toxoplasmosis and fungal or Bartonella infections. It can also follow eye trauma, cataracts, high blood pressure, or cancer such as lymphoma. In some cats no cause is ever found (idiopathic).

🛡 Prevention

Keep core vaccinations current, keep cats indoors to limit FeLV/FIV exposure and eye injuries, and control parasites. Because uveitis so often signals hidden illness, routine senior blood-pressure and wellness checks help catch the underlying triggers early.

💊 Treatment

Treatment has two halves: calming the inflammation in the eye with topical steroid or anti-inflammatory drops (and sometimes drops that dilate the pupil to ease pain), and hunting down the underlying disease driving it. Blood tests for FeLV, FIV, FIP, toxoplasmosis and high blood pressure are usually run. Prompt care protects vision.

When to see a vet: Treat a cloudy, red or painful eye as an urgent problem and see your vet the same day. Untreated uveitis can lead to glaucoma, lens dislocation, retinal detachment and permanent blindness, and it may be the earliest sign of a life-threatening systemic disease.

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⚕️ Medical disclaimer

  • This information is educational only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.
  • Symptoms overlap between conditions — only a vet can diagnose accurately.
  • Never withhold treatment or self-medicate based on information found online.
  • When in doubt, call your vet. Early intervention almost always leads to better outcomes.

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