The uvea is the middle layer of the vertebrate eye. It consists collectively of the iris, the choroid, and the ciliary body. The anterior (front) uvea includes the iris and ciliary body. The posterior (back) uvea is the choroid.

 

Inflammation (or swelling) of any of these parts or their adjacent tissues is called "uveitis." The uvea is the main site of eye cancers, known as uveal, iris, ciliary body, or choroidal melanomas.

 

Uvea means "grape" in Latin. The name comes about because the eye looks like a reddish-blue grape when the outer coat has been dissected away.