2020–2021 BCSC Basic and Clinical Science Course™
9 Uveitis and Ocular Inflammation
Chapter 5: Diagnostic Considerations in Uveitis
Signs of Uveitis
Posterior Segment
Signs in the posterior segment of the eye include
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retinal or choroidal inflammatory infiltrates
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inflammatory sheathing of arteries or veins
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exudative, tractional*, or rhegmatogenous* retinal detachment
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retinal pigment epithelial hypertrophy or atrophy*
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atrophy or swelling of the retina, choroid, or optic nerve head*
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preretinal or subretinal fibrosis*
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retinal or choroidal neovascularization*
*Indicates structural complications. Retinal and choroidal signs may be unifocal, multifocal, or diffuse.
Posterior segment inflammation is a result of inflammatory or infectious infiltration and resultant structural damage of the retina and choroid. Retinal and choroidal signs may be unifocal, multifocal, or diffuse. Lesions are described by size, color, and appearance (eg, well demarcated, geographic), and anatomical relationship to posterior pole landmarks (see Table 5-7).
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Nussenblatt RB, Palestine AG, Chan CC, Roberge F. Standardization of vitreal inflammatory activity in intermediate and posterior uveitis. Ophthalmology. 1985;92(4):467–471.
Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 9 - Uveitis and Ocular Inflammation. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.