Aqueous flare and cells in Fuchs syndrome

Purpose To quantitatively evaluate aqueous flare and cells in patients with Fuchs syndrome. Methods The medical records of 40 patients (47 eyes) diagnosed with Fuchs syndrome between February 2006 and January 2007 at the Uveitis Study Center of Sun Yat-sen University were retrospectively reviewed. Aqueous flare and cells were clinically evaluated and quantified with laser flare-cell meter. Statistical analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between flare values and cell counts, and clinical parameters including patients' age, sex, duration of disease, best-corrected visual acuity, keratic precipitate, iris depigmentation, intraocular pressure, and posterior subcapsular lens opacities. Results Aqueous flare values (photon counts/ ms) were significantly higher in Fuchs syndrome (9.40 ± 5.85) than in normal controls (5.77 ± 1.89, P = 0.000). Aqueous cell counts (cells/0.5mm 3 ) were also significantly higher in Fuchs syndrome (5.09 ± 4.84) than in normal controls (1.14 ± 1.03, P = 0.000). The flare values were positively correlated with the cell counts (r= 0.331, P= 0.001). Both flare values and cell counts were higher in eyes with keratic precipitates scored 2 + or 3 + as compared to those with a 1 + score. Higher flare values and cell counts were also observed in eyes with a 2 + or 3 + iris depigmentation score as compared to those with a 1 + score. No difference was found between flare values and cell counts and other parameters. Conclusion Breakdown of blood-aqueous barriers and increased cell counts are present in the affected eyes in patients with Fuchs syndrome. These changes are positively associated with the degree of keratic precipitates and iris depigmentation.