Aqueous flare and cell measurement using laser in endogenous uveitis patients

We verified the applicability of the newly developed laser aqueous flare-cell meter in 124 consecutive patients with endogenous uveitis. The flare intensity was expressed in equivalent bovine serum albumin concentration and the number of cells per 0.075 mm3 of the aqueous humor. A comparison between the laser flare-cell readings and conventional slit-lamp gradings indicated a linear correlation between the two findings for aqueous flare. There was a correlation between the two findings for the aqueous cells, but the relationship seemed nonlinear, and the aqueous cell readings remained low except for severe aqueous cells graded as 3+ in slit-lamp grading. The measurement of the aqueous flare with the present apparatus was found to be highly useful in assessing the degree of anterior uveitis, but the cell counts need a careful interpretation.