Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Also known as anterioruveitis, the symptoms of traumatic iritis typically include eye pain, severe redness, and blurry vision in the affected eye. If not diagnosed or treated in a timely manner, traumatic iritis can lead to permanent injury of the eye, reduced vision, and the development ofglaucoma.
When to See a Healthcare Provider About Eye Pain
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Although there may be blurring of vision and pain at the time an injury occurs, the symptoms of traumatic iritis will develop within hours to a day after an injury.
Common
Common symptoms of traumatic iritis include:
Common signs may include:
Floaters—tiny specks or “cobwebs” floating in the field of vision—can also be a sign of trauma to the eye, though they may or may not be related to the iritis specifically.
Severe
This, in turn, can affect the movement of fluid through the eye, causing the iris to bulge. The increased pressure can lead to a serious complication known asangle-closure glaucoma. When blunt trauma damages the eye’s drainage system, it can lead to angle recession glaucoma.
The rapid onset of angle-closure glaucoma usually requires emergency intervention to prevent permanent vision loss.
When Red Eyes Are a Sign of an Emergency
In traumatic iritis, the eye injury will trigger an inflammatory response in which white blood cells and proteins will rapidly accumulate between the iris and lens. This is referred to as “cell and flare,” since the buildup of white blood cells gives the eye a dusty appearance, while the accumulation of proteins creates smoke-like trails.
The acute inflammatory response will also cause the fluid in the front of the eye, called the aqueous humor, to thicken, causing blurring. It can also render thepupilless responsive to light, leading to photophobia. The release of blood and pigments from ruptured tissues can cause other characteristic abnormalities, such as ciliary flush and a Vossius ring.
Inflammation associated with traumatic iritis can often increase intraocular pressure (pressure within the eye). This can further amplify inflammation within the eye, increasing the risk of synechiae and angle-closure glaucoma.
Some of the visual signs of traumatic iritis, such as ciliary flush, Vossius ring, and hypopyon, can be seen with the naked eye. Others, like cell and flare or synechiae, require a special high-powered microscope called a slit lamp to view inside the eye.
In addition, a healthcare provider will use a penlight to test your pupil reflex and perform avisual acuity testto determine the extent of vision impairment.
Intraocular pressure can be measured withocular tonometry.
Lab tests are not used to diagnose traumatic iritis. The diagnosis is based purely on physical signs and symptoms, along with the identification of the traumatic event.
With that said, the healthcare provider may order additional tests if the cause is less than certain. Thedifferential diagnosis, used to exclude other possible causes, may include disorders such as:
6 Tests to Diagnose Glaucoma
Prednisolone acetate 1% is one of the most commonly prescribed steroid eye drops. It is generally used four times daily for several days (more often in severe cases), after which the dose isgradually taperedto avoid arebound in symptoms.
If the symptoms of iritis have improved after five to seven days, cycloplegic eye drops can be stopped and steroid eye drops can be gradually tapered to discontinue.Your healthcare provider will also put you on a strict follow-up schedule to make sure you are healing and that side effects like glaucoma do not occur.
Temporary avoidance of anticoagulants (blood thinners) andnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)like aspirin or Advil (ibuprofen) may be advisable if there is traumatic eye bleeding. These drugs can promote bleeding and increase the risk of eye complications.
A Word From Verywell
If you experience a blunt force injury to your eyes, do not wait for severe symptoms to develop before seeing a healthcare provider or going to the emergency room.
When to Seek Medical CareCall 911 or seek emergency care if any of the following occurs:There are visual disturbances, even after a light blow.Your eye has been scratched, cut, or punctured.You get chemicals in your eyes that cause burning pain.You cannot flush a particle, like glass or metal, out of your eye.
When to Seek Medical Care
Call 911 or seek emergency care if any of the following occurs:There are visual disturbances, even after a light blow.Your eye has been scratched, cut, or punctured.You get chemicals in your eyes that cause burning pain.You cannot flush a particle, like glass or metal, out of your eye.
Call 911 or seek emergency care if any of the following occurs:
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Augsburger JJ, Corrêa ZM.Chapter 19: Ophthalmic trauma. In: Riordan-Eva P, Cunningham ET, eds.Asbury’s General Ophthalmology. 18th ed. McGraw-Hill; 2011:371-382.Ksiaa I, Abroug N, Mahmoud A, et al.Hypopyon: is-it infective or noninfective?Ocular Immunology and Inflammation. 2021;29(4):817-829. doi:10.1080/09273948.2021.1922708Agrawal RV, Murthy S, Sangwan V, Biswas J.Current approach in diagnosis and management of anterior uveitis.Indian J Ophthalmol.2010;58(1):11-19. doi:10.4103/0301-4738.58468American Academy of Ophthalmology.How to diagnose and treat angle-recession glaucoma.Khazaeni B, Khazaeni L.Acute angle-closure glaucoma. StatPearls.Mahabadi N, Kim J, Edens MA.Iritis. StatPearls.Carpenter N, Grigorian AP.Traumatic iritis. EyeWiki.Zaidi AA, Ying GS, Daniel E, et al.Hypopyon in patients with uveitis.Ophthalmol. 2010;117(2):366-372. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2009.07.025Pinch CM.Evaluation of traumatic uveitis in the emergency department.Adv Emerg Nurs J. 2019;41(2):122-128. doi:10.1097/TME.0000000000000243American Academy of Ophthalmology.Recognizing and treating eye injuries.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Augsburger JJ, Corrêa ZM.Chapter 19: Ophthalmic trauma. In: Riordan-Eva P, Cunningham ET, eds.Asbury’s General Ophthalmology. 18th ed. McGraw-Hill; 2011:371-382.Ksiaa I, Abroug N, Mahmoud A, et al.Hypopyon: is-it infective or noninfective?Ocular Immunology and Inflammation. 2021;29(4):817-829. doi:10.1080/09273948.2021.1922708Agrawal RV, Murthy S, Sangwan V, Biswas J.Current approach in diagnosis and management of anterior uveitis.Indian J Ophthalmol.2010;58(1):11-19. doi:10.4103/0301-4738.58468American Academy of Ophthalmology.How to diagnose and treat angle-recession glaucoma.Khazaeni B, Khazaeni L.Acute angle-closure glaucoma. StatPearls.Mahabadi N, Kim J, Edens MA.Iritis. StatPearls.Carpenter N, Grigorian AP.Traumatic iritis. EyeWiki.Zaidi AA, Ying GS, Daniel E, et al.Hypopyon in patients with uveitis.Ophthalmol. 2010;117(2):366-372. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2009.07.025Pinch CM.Evaluation of traumatic uveitis in the emergency department.Adv Emerg Nurs J. 2019;41(2):122-128. doi:10.1097/TME.0000000000000243American Academy of Ophthalmology.Recognizing and treating eye injuries.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Augsburger JJ, Corrêa ZM.Chapter 19: Ophthalmic trauma. In: Riordan-Eva P, Cunningham ET, eds.Asbury’s General Ophthalmology. 18th ed. McGraw-Hill; 2011:371-382.Ksiaa I, Abroug N, Mahmoud A, et al.Hypopyon: is-it infective or noninfective?Ocular Immunology and Inflammation. 2021;29(4):817-829. doi:10.1080/09273948.2021.1922708Agrawal RV, Murthy S, Sangwan V, Biswas J.Current approach in diagnosis and management of anterior uveitis.Indian J Ophthalmol.2010;58(1):11-19. doi:10.4103/0301-4738.58468American Academy of Ophthalmology.How to diagnose and treat angle-recession glaucoma.Khazaeni B, Khazaeni L.Acute angle-closure glaucoma. StatPearls.Mahabadi N, Kim J, Edens MA.Iritis. StatPearls.Carpenter N, Grigorian AP.Traumatic iritis. EyeWiki.Zaidi AA, Ying GS, Daniel E, et al.Hypopyon in patients with uveitis.Ophthalmol. 2010;117(2):366-372. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2009.07.025Pinch CM.Evaluation of traumatic uveitis in the emergency department.Adv Emerg Nurs J. 2019;41(2):122-128. doi:10.1097/TME.0000000000000243American Academy of Ophthalmology.Recognizing and treating eye injuries.
Augsburger JJ, Corrêa ZM.Chapter 19: Ophthalmic trauma. In: Riordan-Eva P, Cunningham ET, eds.Asbury’s General Ophthalmology. 18th ed. McGraw-Hill; 2011:371-382.
Ksiaa I, Abroug N, Mahmoud A, et al.Hypopyon: is-it infective or noninfective?Ocular Immunology and Inflammation. 2021;29(4):817-829. doi:10.1080/09273948.2021.1922708
Agrawal RV, Murthy S, Sangwan V, Biswas J.Current approach in diagnosis and management of anterior uveitis.Indian J Ophthalmol.2010;58(1):11-19. doi:10.4103/0301-4738.58468
American Academy of Ophthalmology.How to diagnose and treat angle-recession glaucoma.
Khazaeni B, Khazaeni L.Acute angle-closure glaucoma. StatPearls.
Mahabadi N, Kim J, Edens MA.Iritis. StatPearls.
Carpenter N, Grigorian AP.Traumatic iritis. EyeWiki.
Zaidi AA, Ying GS, Daniel E, et al.Hypopyon in patients with uveitis.Ophthalmol. 2010;117(2):366-372. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2009.07.025
Pinch CM.Evaluation of traumatic uveitis in the emergency department.Adv Emerg Nurs J. 2019;41(2):122-128. doi:10.1097/TME.0000000000000243
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Recognizing and treating eye injuries.
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