What If It’s Not Pink Eye? Knowing When to See a Uveitis Specialist

Red, irritated eyes are a common symptom often caused by allergies, pink eye, or minor infections. But if your symptoms keep coming back or don’t improve with typical treatments, it could be a sign of something more serious. In some cases, what looks like pink eye may actually be uveitis, a deeper form of eye inflammation that requires specialized care.

What Makes Uveitis Different?

Pink eye (conjunctivitis) affects the surface of the eye and is usually caused by a virus, bacteria, or allergies. While uncomfortable, it’s generally mild and short-lived.

Uveitis involves inflammation deeper inside the eye, often triggered by the body’s own immune system. It affects the uvea, which includes the iris, ciliary body, and choroid — structures responsible for focus, light control, and blood supply to the retina. When these become inflamed, vision can be permanently damaged without proper treatment. Uveitis symptoms can include:

• Persistent or recurring redness and eye pain
• Blurred vision or light sensitivity
• New floaters or dark spots in your vision

Some people experience sudden flare-ups, while others develop symptoms more gradually. Because uveitis symptoms overlap with more common conditions, they’re often mistaken for pink eye or dismissed as irritation.

Why Seeing a Uveitis Specialist Matters

General eye exams or urgent care visits are well-suited for pink eye or allergies, but uveitis requires subspecialty care. A uveitis specialist has advanced training to:

• Use advanced imaging tools such as fluorescein angiography, to detect inflammation that may not be visible during a routine exam
• Identify the specific type of uveitis (which may affect one or multiple parts of the uvea)
• Determine whether it’s linked to an underlying autoimmune or infectious condition
• Help prevent long-term complications like glaucoma, cataracts, or permanent vision loss

If you’re dealing with eye irritation that isn’t responding to standard treatments and you haven’t seen a uveitis specialist yet, it may be time to get a more in-depth evaluation.