Advanced Health Assessment Practice Exam

What are three possible differential diagnoses if ciliary flush is present in a patient?

1. Conjunctivitis, allergic reaction, uveitis

2. Glaucoma, iritis, keratitis

3. Macular degeneration, diabetes, cataract

4. Normal aging, hypertension, pterygium

The correct answer is: Glaucoma, iritis, keratitis

Ciliary flush is characterized by a ring of hyperemia (redness) around the cornea and is often indicative of ocular conditions that involve inflammation. The correct response identifies three conditions that can manifest with ciliary flush. Glaucoma, particularly acute angle-closure glaucoma, can lead to ciliary flush due to an increase in intraocular pressure, which causes pain and redness. Iritis, or inflammation of the iris, is another condition that presents with ciliary flush because it often results in increased blood flow to the ciliary body and surrounding structures. Keratitis, an inflammation of the cornea, can also produce ciliary flush due to irritation and inflammation of the corneal tissue. Each of these conditions shares the common feature of inflammation or irritation that affects the anterior segment of the eye, prompting the presence of ciliary flush. This makes them pertinent differential diagnoses when such a clinical finding is observed. The other options include conditions that are either not typically associated with ciliary flush or do not focus on acute inflammatory processes.