AIM: To explore the clinical value of quantitative determination of aqueous flare in patients with uveitis by FM-600 laser flare cell meter(LFCM).

METHODS:According to clinical manifestation, 129 patients(171 eyes)with uveitis were divided into 3 groups in our hospital from July 2009 to July 2010: 87 cases(87 eyes)in anterior uveitis group, 10 cases(20 eyes)in intermediate uveitis group, 32 cases(64 eyes)in posterior uveitis group. The other 50 cases(100 normal eyes)were in the control group. Flare in patients with uveitis at different stages was graded and measured by LFCM(FM-600)and slit-lamp microscope.

RESULTS: Flare of grade 1+, 2+, 3+ and 4+ were noted in 48, 35, 2 and 2 eyes in anterior uveitis patients, respectively. LFCM examination revealed that the mean flare values in anterior uveitis eyes with flare of grade 1+ and 2+ were 28.6±6.7pc/ms and 144.3±28.1pc/ms, and 5.1±1.8pc/ms in the control group. In patients with flare of grade 3+ and 4+, LFCM readings were unreliable because of increased background noise. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant(P<0.05). There was significant correlation between slit lamp examination and LFCM measurement for flare of grade 1+ and 2+(r=0.901, P<0.01). Flare of grade 1+ and 2+ were noted in 10 and 10 eyes in intermediate uveitis patients, respectively. LFCM examination revealed that the mean flare values were 31.7±5.0pc/ms and 130.7±12.9pc/ms, and 5.1±1.8pc/ms in the control group. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant(P<0.05). There was significant correlation between slit lamp examination and LFCM measurement for flare of grade 1+ and 2+(r=0.867, P<0.01). Flare of grade 0 was noted in 64 eyes in posterior uveitis patients. LFCM examination revealed that the mean flare value was 9.8±3.1pc/ms which was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:LFCM(FM-600)is able to evaluate precisely the mild and moderate breakdown of blood aqueous barrier in uveitis, therefore it provides an important parameter for the determination of inflammatory response in anterior segment and the clinical treatment of uveitis.