Uvea

The uvea is the pigmented vascular middle layer of the eye. It consists of the choroid, ciliary body, and iris.

What is the function of the Uvea?

The three components of the uvea play significant roles:

  • The iris regulates the amount of light entering the pupil.
  • The ciliary body produces aqueous humor and changes the shape of the lens to help focus.
  • The choroid lines the internal surface of the sclera and functions to provide the outer portion of the retina with oxygen and nutrients, modulate thermoregulation and light absorption, and regulate the intraocular pressure of the eye.

Source: Rehman I, Hazhirkarzar B, Patel BC. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Eye. [Updated 2021 Jul 31]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482428/