[Uveitis: Diagnosis and work-up]

Uveitis is an inflammation of the uveal tissue: iris, ciliary body and choroid. The annual incidence of uveitis in France is low (17/100,000), but visual and therapeutic consequences may be severe. Etiologic investigation is thus a fundamental step in the management of any uveitis. The history plays an important role in the initial evaluation; it must be methodic. The ophthalmologic examination seeks to classify the uveitis by type (granulomatous or not), location (anterior, intermediate or posterior), severity, duration and recurrence. Systemic signs often orient the diagnosis toward a specific cause. The diagnostic approach to uveitis relies on the history, ophthalmologic examination and evaluation of possible extraocular manifestations. Ancillary testing must be prescribed based on the clinical differential diagnosis, without which their yield is very low.