BCEN CEN Practice Question

The correct answer is pain in the affected eye when a light is shined into the unaffected eye. This phenomenon, known as consensual photophobia, is a hallmark sign of iritis (anterior uveitis). It occurs because the pupillary light reflex is bilateral; light in one eye causes both pupils to constrict. In iritis, inflammation of the iris and ciliary body makes pupillary movement painful. While simple photophobia can occur in severe conjunctivitis, consensual photophobia is a more specific finding for iritis. Purulent discharge, itching, a gritty sensation, and matted eyelids are all classic signs of conjunctivitis.