Does an A/C reaction occur with an infectious ulcer?

Does an A/C reaction occur with an infectious ulcer?

• A. None
• B. Moderate
• C. Severe
• D. Mild to severe

Answer: (D)

An anterior chamber (A/C) reaction can accompany an infectious corneal ulcer. Inflammation from the infected ulcer can spill into the anterior chamber, producing cells and flare, and in more severe cases even a hypopyon. The amount of A/C reaction varies with the infection’s depth, virulence, and duration, so you can see only a trace reaction in mild cases or a marked reaction in more aggressive disease. That’s why the best choice is recognizing a range from mild to severe. It isn’t limited to a fixed level, nor is it always absent. In practice, noting an A/C reaction helps gauge how aggressively the infection is behaving and guides treatment—while keeping in mind that steroids are used cautiously and typically only after infection is controlled.

An anterior chamber (A/C) reaction can accompany an infectious corneal ulcer. Inflammation from the infected ulcer can spill into the anterior chamber, producing cells and flare, and in more severe cases even a hypopyon. The amount of A/C reaction varies with the infection’s depth, virulence, and duration, so you can see only a trace reaction in mild cases or a marked reaction in more aggressive disease.

That’s why the best choice is recognizing a range from mild to severe. It isn’t limited to a fixed level, nor is it always absent. In practice, noting an A/C reaction helps gauge how aggressively the infection is behaving and guides treatment—while keeping in mind that steroids are used cautiously and typically only after infection is controlled.