Sudden eye pain and light intolerance may be a sign of which diagnosis?

• A. Conjunctivitis
• B. Iritis (Uveitis)
• C. Glaucoma
• D. Cataract

Answer: (B)

Sudden eye pain and light intolerance are classic symptoms of iritis, also known as uveitis. This condition is characterized by inflammation of the uveal tract, which includes the iris. The inflammation results in increased sensitivity to light (photophobia), as well as pain that can be quite severe.

In iritis, the pain is typically deep and can be associated with a red eye due to the involvement of the iris and ciliary body. Other signs may include a decrease in vision and a constricted pupil. The sudden onset of these symptoms warrants timely evaluation, as untreated iritis can lead to complications such as glaucoma or cataract development, and in some cases, even vision loss.

In contrast, other conditions like conjunctivitis would present with redness and discharge more than pain and light intolerance. Glaucoma typically causes a gradual increase in eye pressure leading to a "halos" effect around lights rather than acute pain, while cataracts may cause blurry vision but not the acute pain or light sensitivity seen in iritis.