A 25-year-old woman develops unilateral vitritis, snow-banking of the vitreous over the inferior pars plana, and 'string of pearls' vitreous exudate. Systemic evaluation is negative. This presentation is consistent with:

• A Anterior uveitis from HLA-B27 spondyloarthropathy
• B Posterior uveitis from Toxoplasma
• C Endogenous fungal endophthalmitis
• D Intermediate uveitis (pars planitis) ✓

Explanation

Intermediate uveitis (pars planitis when idiopathic) primarily involves the vitreous, peripheral retina, and pars plana. Characteristic features include peripheral snowbanks (dense fibrovascular exudate over the inferior pars plana/peripheral retina visible on indirect ophthalmoscopy), vitreous cells and haze, and 'string of pearls' or 'snowballs' in the vitreous. It peaks in patients aged 5–40 years. Complications include cystoid macular edema and cataract. In the absence of systemic disease (sarcoidosis, MS, Lyme), it is idiopathic (pars planitis). Treatment is periocular corticosteroid injection or systemic immunosuppression for persistent macular edema.

Reference: Khurana Comprehensive Ophthalmology, 7th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.