Aqueous flare increase after light exposure in age-related macular degeneration

An increase in anterior chamber flare is associated with many ocular conditions, including retinal diseases. We assessed anterior chamber flare in 18 patients (19 eyes) with exudative age-related macular degeneration using the Kowa flare-cell meter immediately before and 1 hour after exposure to 40 light flashes at a flash intensity of 300 W/s delivered with a Topcon fundus camera. Fourteen eyes showed a significant increase in flare 1 hour after light exposure (T = -3.452, p < 0.003, t-test). A second measurement in a subgroup of 10 patients exposed to 40 light flashes at a flash intensity of 36 W/s showed no significant change in flare 1 hour after light exposure. Multiple analysis of variance (two-way interaction) showed a highly significant difference between the two groups (F[1,27] = 8.66, p < 0.0066). We discuss possible mechanisms that may have produced these changes as well as implications of light exposure in various diagnostic and therapeutic settings.