Aqueous flare

Aqueous Flare

Aqueous flare is a clinical sign observed in the anterior chamber of the eye, indicative of inflammation. It is characterized by the presence of protein and inflammatory cells in the aqueous humor, which scatter light and create a "flare" effect similar to light passing through smoke or fog. This phenomenon is often associated with uveitis, a group of inflammatory diseases affecting the uveal tract of the eye.

Pathophysiology

The anterior chamber of the eye is normally filled with a clear fluid called the aqueous humor, which is produced by the ciliary body. In a healthy eye, the aqueous humor is free of proteins and cells. However, in conditions such as uveitis, the blood-aqueous barrier is disrupted, allowing proteins and inflammatory cells to leak into the anterior chamber. This results in the scattering of light, which is observed as an aqueous flare during slit-lamp examination.

Clinical Significance

Aqueous flare is an important diagnostic sign in ophthalmology. It is often used to assess the severity of inflammation in the eye and to monitor the response to treatment. The presence of aqueous flare can indicate active inflammation and may be associated with symptoms such as pain, redness, photophobia, and decreased vision.

Diagnosis

Aqueous flare is typically detected using a slit-lamp biomicroscope. The examiner directs a narrow beam of light into the anterior chamber and observes the scattering of light. The intensity of the flare can be graded on a scale from 0 (no flare) to 4+ (severe flare), providing a semi-quantitative measure of inflammation.

Management

The management of aqueous flare involves treating the underlying cause of inflammation. This may include the use of topical or systemic corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or immunosuppressive agents. Regular monitoring of the flare intensity can help guide treatment decisions and assess the effectiveness of therapy.

Also see

• Uveitis
• Slit-lamp examination
• Ciliary body
• Aqueous humor
• Blood-aqueous barrier

External

• Age-Related Macular Degeneration

• Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

• Anophthalmia and Microphthalmia

• Astigmatism

B

• Behçet's Disease* Bietti's Crystalline Dystrophy

• Blepharitis* Blepharospasm

C

• Cataracts

• Coloboma

• Color Blindness

• Corneal Conditions

D

• Diabetic Retinopathy

• Dry Eye

F

• Floaters

G

• Glaucoma

I

• Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

L

• Low Vision

M

• Macular Edema

• Macular Hole

• Macular Pucker

P

• Pink Eye

R

• Rare Diseases

• Refractive Errors

• Retinal Detachment

• Retinitis Pigmentosa

• Retinoblastoma

• Retinopathy of Prematurity

S

• Stargardt Disease

U

• Usher Syndrome

• Uveitis

V

• Vitreous Detachment