Seventy-one consecutive patients presenting with their first episode of uveitis at the age of 60 or more years, were studied retrospectively. The majority were found to have idiopathic uveitides on investigation. In those who did have associated systemic disease, the commonest finding was non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or an autoimmune disease. There were no cases of ocular lymphoma in this series. We conclude that, contrary to some previous reports, idiopathic uveitis may occur in the elderly, and that the relative frequencies of acute anterior, chronic anterior, intermediate and posterior uveitides are similar to those seen in young patients.