What are the symptoms of iritis?

• A. Absent vision and eye movement.
• B. Redness, pain, photophobia, blurred vision.
• C. Diffuse redness with discharge.
• D. Severe itching without pain.

Answer: (B)

Iritis is inflammation of the iris within the anterior uveal tract. The hallmark symptoms include eye pain, sensitivity to light (photophobia), redness, and blurred vision. Pain from the inflamed iris is often aching and worsens with light exposure; photophobia occurs because the iris reacts to bright light. Redness is typically a ciliary flush—redness around the cornea—rather than a diffuse conjunctival injection. Blurred vision results from inflammatory cells and protein particles (flare) in the anterior chamber interfering with light passage.

This combination—red eye with eye pain, photophobia, and decreased vision—fits iritis well. By contrast, absence of vision or eye movement would raise concern for deeper orbital or optic problems, diffuse discharge points toward conjunctivitis, and itching without pain is more typical of allergic conjunctivitis.