AQUEOUS FLARE IN PATIENTS WITH MONOCULAR IRIS ATROPHY AND UVEITIS - ALASER FLARE AND IRIS ANGIOGRAPHY STUDY

Purpose: To study aqueous flare longitudinally in patients with Fuchs' heterochromic uveitis (FHU) and for comparison in another group with iris atrophy (non FHU), Methods: A new laser flare meter was used. Iri s angiography was performed in most FHU patients. Results: The flare v alues in the affected eyes in the FHU group were always higher compare d to the normal eyes and rather constant over time. Cataract surgery d id not permanently change the flare values. Systemic - but not local - steroid therapy caused normalization of the flare. Iris angiography d isplayed leakage in all FHU eyes. Leakage from original vessels domina ted although some newly-formed leaking vessels were observed. Conclusi ons: The results support the notion that FHU is a low grade, chronic, stable disease. Leaking iris vessels, original or newly-formed, are pr obably the source of the increased flare. Our hypothesis is that infla mmation plays a major part. Atrophy per se does not enhance flare.