Quantitative assessment of the effects of pupillary dilation on aqueous flare in eyes with chronic anterior uveitis using laser flare photometry

The purpose of this study is to determine whether pupillary dilation has any effect on anterior chamber flare measurements using a Kowa laser flare meter (FM-500) in patients with chronic anterior uveitis (CAU). Twenty-five eyes of 25 consecutive patients with CAU were assessed for anterior chamber inflammation by an experienced operator using the Kowa laser flare meter. Ten measurements were taken in total, with the highest and the lowest measurements deducted. The mean value and standard deviation was then recorded. One drop of tropicamide 1% and phenylephrine 2.5% was then applied and after 30 min the measurements were repeated and the results recorded. Sixteen women (64%) and nine men (36%) were recruited. The majority of patients were white Caucasian (68%). Fifteen left and ten right eyes were studied and the median (interquartile range: IQR) visual acuity was 6/9 (6/6–6/18). Iris colour was classified as brown, blue, grey/hazel and hazel. Thirteen eyes (52%) had brown irises, eight (32%) had blue, two had grey and the remainder were grey/hazel and hazel. The mean (SD) age was 50.8 (12.59) years. The median (IQR) flare reading before dilation was 17.93 (8.33–29.93) and after dilation was 15.97 (10.17–29.4). The mean change was −0.74 which was not a statistically significantly different to 0 ( P = 0.25) and the 95% limits of agreements ranged from −6.91 to 5.43. This study showed little evidence of any systematic difference between dilated and undilated flare measurements. The measurement of flare was not affected by the dilation of the pupil and measurements could be taken before or after papillary dilation for the purpose of patient follow-up data and clinical studies.