Source: Radio New Zealand
Despite one in five New Zealanders being tattooed, the vast majority are likely to have never heard of tattoo-associated uveitis.
It’s a condition associated with inflammation in the inner eye that, in some cases, can lead to permanent vision loss. The culprit may be an immune response to certain toxins in the ink used in tattooing.
To give you an idea about how rare it is, a recent study in Australia looked at 40 cases of tattoo-associated uveitis reported between 2023 and 2025 (Aussies are more tattooed than New Zealanders at a rate of one in four, so close to seven million people). However, reported cases globally have doubled since 2010. The cases in the study were often associated with black ink, the most common colour used in tattooing.
