This document discusses the signs and symptoms of uveitis, an inflammatory condition of the uveal tract of the eye. It describes the classical triad of uveitis as acute onset pain, redness, and photophobia. Slit lamp examination may reveal keratic precipitates, aqueous cells and flare, miosis, iris nodules, and posterior synechiae. Inflammation can occur in the iris, ciliary body, vitreous base, choroid, or retina, presenting with symptoms like floaters, blurred vision, or visual disturbances. Specific signs include snowballs/snowbanking in the vitreous, yellow-white infiltrates in the choroid, and infiltrates or

1. D r. A n u p a m a K a r a n t h
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2.  Symptoms: Classical triad of acute onset
 Pain
 Redness
 Photophobia
 With or without diminished vision
Chronic iridocyclitis – variable presentation
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3. Pain V nerve, ophthalmic division, due to ciliary spasm
Photophobia Abnormal sensitivity to light due to pain from ciliary
spasm and miosis
Redness Ciliary congestion / ciliary flush
3600 perilimbal / circumcorneal violaceous hue
(vs. red in conjunctivitis or purplish in scleritis)
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4.  Redness can result from any inflammation in anterior
segment
 Conjunctivitis
 Keratitis / Episcleritis / Anterior scleritis
 Iritis / Iridocyclitis / Cyclitis
 Angle closure glaucoma
Clues: type of congestion and associated features
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5. Inflammation in iris and ciliary body
Dilated vessels and
exudation of fluid/cells
Cornea Aqueous Pupil Iris
Signs seen by slit lamp
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6. Corneal
Aqueous
endothelium
• Keratic precipitates • Aqueous cells
• Aqueous flare
• (Leucocytes on
sticky endothelium)
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8.  Keratic precipitates (KPs) vary in size, shape, number
 Base down triangle inferiorly – Arlt’s
 Granulomatous / non granulomatous
 Proteinaceous influx gives rise to aqueous flare
(Tyndall effect)
 Aqueous cells are always a sign of activity
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9. cells
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10. Pupil Iris
• Miosis • Muddy iris
• Sluggish reaction • Iris nodules
• Posterior synechiae
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11. Festooned pupil – multiple posterior synechiae
seen on pupillary dilatation
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12. Posterior synechiae
Posterior synechiae with cataract in a child with blunt injury
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13.  Pupillary constriction is an important sign in D/D of
red eye
 Risk of pupil block glaucoma exists with extensive
posterior synechiae
 Iris nodules are characteristic of granulomatous uveitis
Iris nodules
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14.  Symptoms
 Insiduous onset
 Floaters
 Opacities in the anterior vitreous
 Diminished vision
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15. Inflammation in vitreous base - pars plana -
peripheral retina complex
WBCs aggregate and
form clumps
Anterior Peripheral Anterior
Pars plana
vitreous retina chamber
Signs seen by slit lamp & indirect ophthalmoscopy
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16. Pars plana
Anterior vitreous
• Snowballs • Snow banking
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17. Peripheral Anterior
retina chamber
• Periphlebitis • Spill over aqueous
cells, flare and KPs
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18.  Symptoms
 Painless
 Visual disturbances
 Floaters
 Metamorphopsia
 Macropsia / Micropsia
 Photopsia
 Blurring of vision
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19. Inflammation in choroid or
retina or both
Focal / Multifocal /
Diffuse
Vitreous Choroid Retina Optic nerve
Signs seen by slit lamp & indirect ophthalmoscopy
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20. Choroid
Vitreous
• Vitritis • Yellow white
infiltrates
Optic nerve
Retina
• Infiltrates • Papillitis
• Perivascular cuffing
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21. Cells and exudates seen in the anterior vitreous
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22. Diseases of the uveal tract. In: Parsons’ Diseases of the eye. 20th ed.
1.
Sihota R, Tandon R eds. Elsevier; 2007
Basic and Clinical Science Course. Intraocular inflammation and
2.
uveitis. American Academy of Ophthalmology. 2006-2007
Nussenblatt RB, Whilcup SM, Palestine AG. Uveitis: Fundamentals
3.
and Clinical Practice. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Mosby; 1996
Duane’s Ophthalmology 1997. CD-ROM Edition.
4.
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