Eyes & VisionPending review

Anterior uveitis

Inflammation of the iris and ciliary body causes a painful, photophobic red eye with an irregular pupil and visual blurring, reflecting immune-mediated attack on the anterior uvea and often signalling an underlying systemic disease.

In a nutshell

Anterior uveitis is immune-mediated inflammation of the iris and ciliary body, producing cells and flare in the anterior chamber. Ciliary spasm causes deep pain and photophobia, synechiae distort the pupil, and the association with HLA-B27 disease means it can be the presenting feature of systemic illness.

Classic presentation

A young adult with a painful, photophobic, watering red eye, blurred vision and a small, irregular pupil, sometimes with known ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel disease or reactive arthritis.

Key points

Circumcorneal (ciliary) injection, not diffuse conjunctival redness, is the pattern: it reflects deep vessel involvement around the limbus.

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Educational content pending clinical review. Not medical advice.