Uveitis

Question 1

Define:

Answer 1

Inflammation of the iris and ciliary body

Question 2

Aetiology/risk factors:

Answer 2

• May be caused by infection (e.g. herpes simplex)
• It can occur as a manifestation of systemic inflammatory conditions (e.g. reactive arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel disease, sarcoidosis, Behcet’s disease)
• Sympathetic Ophthalmia
o Inflammation of the contralateral eye weeks/months after penetrating injury
o This is due to recognition of eye antigens in the contralateral eye by T-cells that were activated by the initial penetrating injury to the opposite eye

Question 3

Epidemiology:

Answer 3

• Uveitis associated with spondyloarthritis is twice as common in MALES as females

Question 4

Signs:

Answer 4

• Reduced visual acuity
• Ciliary flush
• Hypopyon (exudate and inflammatory cells in the inferior angle of the anterior chamber)
IMAGE
• Small irregular pupil due to adhesions of the iris to the lens
• Slit Lamp - keratic precipitates (leucocyte deposits on the corneal endothelium)
• Fundoscopy - exclude retinal detachment
• Signs of Complications - increased IOP, cataract
• Signs of underlying aetiology

Question 5

Investigations:

Answer 5

• Investigations for associated systemic conditions (e.g. spondyloarthritides - sacroiliac joint X-ray, HLA-typing)

Question 6

Symptoms of anterior uveitis:

Answer 6

Autoimmune 
Painful 
Blurry vision 
Lacrimation 
Photophobia

Question 7

Symptoms of posterior uveitis:

Answer 7

Painless 
Infection 
Blurry vision 
Scotomas 
Floaters