Anterior Uveitis

Question 1

What is anterior uveitis?

Answer 1

Inflammation of the cornea, iris, and ciliary body; it is the most common form of uveitis and is linked to immune system problems.

Question 2

What systemic conditions are associated with anterior uveitis?

Answer 2

• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Sarcoidosis
• Behcet’s disease
• Syphilis
• Tuberculosis (TB)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Juvenile arthritis
• Fuch’s heterochromic iridocyclitis

Question 3

What are the main signs of anterior uveitis?

Answer 3

• Conjunctival injection
• Cells in anterior chamber
• Flare in anterior chamber
• Keratitic precipitates
• Iris nodules
• Posterior and peripheral anterior synechiae
• Pupillary block
• Iris bombe
• Cystoid macular oedema

Question 4

What are keratitic precipitates (KPs) in anterior uveitis?

Answer 4

Deposits on the corneal endothelium, which can be fine (non-granulomatous) or thick and yellow (granulomatous).

Question 5

What are iris nodules in anterior uveitis?

Answer 5

Lumps or bumps that form on the iris, typically seen in granulomatous uveitis.

Question 6

What is posterior synechiae in anterior uveitis?

Answer 6

Adhesion of the iris to the lens.

Question 7

What is a pupillary block in anterior uveitis?

Answer 7

Obstruction of aqueous humor flow due to iris adhesion, leading to increased intraocular pressure.

Question 8

What is iris bombe in anterior uveitis?

Answer 8

Forward bulging of the iris due to pupillary block and posterior synechiae.

Question 9

How does anterior uveitis affect intraocular pressure?

Answer 9

It can cause either increased or decreased intraocular pressure.

Question 10

What is cystoid macular oedema in anterior uveitis?

Answer 10

Swelling of the macula, which can result in vision loss.

Question 11

What are the common symptoms of anterior uveitis?

Answer 11

• Photophobia
• Pain, aggravated by accommodation
• Decreased vision
• Lacrimation

Question 12

What is granulomatous uveitis?

Answer 12

A type of uveitis usually caused by infections such as TB, syphilis, or toxoplasmosis, with thick yellow KPs and iris nodules.

Question 13

How does granulomatous uveitis typically present?

Answer 13

Insidious onset, chronic, and more likely associated with systemic conditions.

Question 14

What is non-granulomatous uveitis?

Answer 14

A form of uveitis that is acute, of short duration, and often idiopathic, with fine KPs.

Question 15

What causes granulomatous uveitis?

Answer 15

Infectious causes such as TB, syphilis, and toxoplasmosis.

Question 16

What is the difference in KPs between granulomatous and non-granulomatous uveitis?

Answer 16

• Granulomatous: thick, mutton-fat KPs
• Non-granulomatous: fine KPs

Question 17

What is conjunctival injection in anterior uveitis?

Answer 17

Redness of the eye caused by inflammation of the conjunctival blood vessels.

Question 18

What are cells in the anterior chamber in anterior uveitis?

Answer 18

White blood cells floating in the anterior chamber, indicating inflammation.

Question 19

What is ‘flare’ in the anterior chamber in anterior uveitis?

Answer 19

Protein leakage into the aqueous humor, causing a hazy appearance.

Question 20

How does anterior uveitis typically present in relation to systemic conditions?

Answer 20

• Granulomatous uveitis is more likely to be linked to systemic conditions and is chronic.
• Non-granulomatous uveitis is often idiopathic and acute.