Anterior uveitis

Question 1

What is anterior uveitis?

Answer 1

• inflammation of iris and ciliary body
• idiopathic, HLA-B27, toxoplasmosis, HIV

Question 2

Anterior uveitis presentation

Answer 2

• painful red eye
• photophobia
• tearing
• fever, malaise, anorexia
• joint or back pain

Question 3

Anterior uveitis examination findings

Answer 3

• ciliary injection
• irregular pupil
• hazy view of iris
• hypopyon
• ciliary flush

Question 4

Anterior uveitis differentials

Answer 4

• acute angle closure glaucoma
• infectious conjunctivitis
• (epi)scleritis

Question 5

Anterior uveitis investigations

Answer 5

• bedside - urinalysis
• bloods - FBC, U&Es, LFTs, CRP/ESR, ANA, HLA-B27, infection screen
• imaging - optical coherence tomography
• CXR or spinal XR

Question 6

Anterior uveitis management

Answer 6

• refer to ophthal within 24 hours
• topical steroid drops
• pupil dilating drops e.g. cyclopentolate for photophobia
• treat underlying cause, e.g. infection
• systemic steroids or immunosuppressants if severe