Mimickers of anterior uveitis, scleritis and misdiagnoses- tips and tricks for the cornea specialist

J Ophthalmic Inflamm Infect. 2024 Apr 10;14(1):14. doi: 10.1186/s12348-024-00396-z.

Abstract

Background: Anterior uveitis, inflammation of the anterior chamber and related structures, is a cohort of diseases that can present to almost any general or sub-specialty Ophthalmology practice. Its features classically involve anterior chamber cell and flare. Below the surface of these two signs exist a panoply of diagnoses. BODY: The purpose of this review is to provide a general framework for diagnoses of anterior uveitis that are often missed as well as non-uveitic pathologies that often mimic anterior uveitis. Diagnostic deviation in either direction can have vision-threatening and rarely life-threatening consequences for patients. Using a comprehensive literature review we have collected a broad spectrum of etiologies of anterior uveitis that are easily missed and non-uveitic pathologies that can masquerade as anterior uveitis.

Conclusions: We present a focused review on specific misdiagnosed anterior uveitis pathologies and some of the conditions that can masquerade as anterior uveitis and scleritis.

Keywords: Anterior uveitis; Antineoplastic; Drug induced uveitis; Endophthalmitis; Episcleritis; Immunotherapy; Masqueraders; Ocular ischemic syndrome; Scleritis.

Publication types

  • Review