Clinical Features and Diagnosis of Anterior Chamber Disorders

Common Pathological Conditions Affecting the Anterior Chamber

The anterior chamber of the eye plays a critical role in maintaining ocular health and vision. Disorders affecting this chamber can lead to severe complications if left undiagnosed. This article explores the common pathological conditions impacting the anterior chamber, their clinical features, and diagnostic approaches.

Common Anterior Chamber Disorders

• Uveitis: Inflammation of the uvea, often presenting with pain, redness, photophobia, and decreased vision.
• Hyphema: Accumulation of blood in the anterior chamber due to trauma or underlying vascular abnormalities.
• Angle-closure glaucoma: Increased intraocular pressure from obstructed aqueous humor drainage, leading to severe eye pain and visual disturbances.
• Iritis: A subset of uveitis affecting the iris, often presenting with acute ocular discomfort.

Diagnostic Techniques

• Slit-lamp examination: Essential for evaluating anterior chamber depth, inflammation, and presence of abnormal cells.
• Tonometry: Used to measure intraocular pressure, critical in glaucoma diagnosis.
• OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography): Provides high-resolution imaging to assess chamber structure.
• Gonioscopy: Helps in evaluating the iridocorneal angle, particularly in glaucoma assessment.

Management Strategies

Depending on the disorder, treatment options range from pharmacologic therapy (anti-inflammatory agents, intraocular pressure-lowering medications) to surgical interventions like anterior chamber washout for severe hyphema cases. Early diagnosis and appropriate intervention are key to preserving vision.