Autoimmune inflammation of iris and ciliary muscle
Isolated or part of systemic autoimmune condition such as ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Reiter syndrome, sarcoidosis, herpes simplex, herpes zoster, or Behçet disease
Delayed diagnosis and treatment may lead to irreversible vision loss
Engorged conjunctival vessels, especially at corneal edge ("ciliary flush")
Irregularly-shaped pupil (sometimes)
Turbidity and floating cells in aqueous humor and sometimes pigment on anterior lens surface, visible on slit-lamp biomicroscopy, and shown here in retro-illumination
Iris margin stuck to anterior lens capsule ("posterior synechiae") or to periphery of cornea ("anterior synechiae")
Inflammatory cells clumped on posterior surface of cornea ("keratic precipitates")
Normal, elevated, or depressed intraocular pressure
Treatment by ophthalmologist includes topical cycloplegics and corticosteroids, agents to lower intraocular pressure, and sometimes periocular, intraocular, or systemic corticosteroids
Most acute cases respond dramatically within days to weeks of starting treatment
Chronic conditions may respond slowly or incompletely to treatment
If anterior uveitis is recurrent or associated with manifestations suggesting systemic autoimmune condition, thorough systemic evaluation is necessary
