Ciliary flush is indicative of which ocular condition?

Ciliary flush is indicative of which ocular condition?

• A. Corneal ulceration
• B. Uveitis
• C. Conjunctivitis
• D. Glaucoma

Answer: (B)

Ciliary flush, also known as ciliary injection, refers to the redness and vascular engorgement of the conjunctiva near the limbus, which is where the cornea meets the sclera. This phenomenon is particularly significant in the context of uveitis, an inflammation of the uveal tract that includes the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. When uveitis occurs, inflammatory mediators lead to the dilation of the vessels in the ciliary body, causing the surrounding conjunctival blood vessels to become more prominent and give a characteristic appearance of redness localized around the corneal border. This redness can sometimes be subtle but is distinct from the more diffuse redness seen in conditions like conjunctivitis. In contrast, conditions such as corneal ulceration might present with deeper red injections involving the whole conjunctiva and can also lead to changes in corneal clarity, but they do not specifically produce the pattern of ciliary flush associated with uveitis. Conjunctivitis typically presents with a more generalized conjunctival hyperemia without the focused limbal redness of ciliary flush. Glaucoma may present with eye redness as well but often includes other signs such as changes in pupil size and corneal edema instead of the localized ciliary flush

Ciliary flush, also known as ciliary injection, refers to the redness and vascular engorgement of the conjunctiva near the limbus, which is where the cornea meets the sclera. This phenomenon is particularly significant in the context of uveitis, an inflammation of the uveal tract that includes the iris, ciliary body, and choroid.

When uveitis occurs, inflammatory mediators lead to the dilation of the vessels in the ciliary body, causing the surrounding conjunctival blood vessels to become more prominent and give a characteristic appearance of redness localized around the corneal border. This redness can sometimes be subtle but is distinct from the more diffuse redness seen in conditions like conjunctivitis.

In contrast, conditions such as corneal ulceration might present with deeper red injections involving the whole conjunctiva and can also lead to changes in corneal clarity, but they do not specifically produce the pattern of ciliary flush associated with uveitis. Conjunctivitis typically presents with a more generalized conjunctival hyperemia without the focused limbal redness of ciliary flush. Glaucoma may present with eye redness as well but often includes other signs such as changes in pupil size and corneal edema instead of the localized ciliary flush