What is ciliary flushing and where is it typically observed?

Ciliary flushing refers to the phenomenon where there is redness around the cornea, primarily due to the dilation of the ciliary vessels. This is typically observed in conditions involving corneal inflammation, such as keratitis or uveitis. The redness occurs in a circumferential pattern around the cornea and is often associated with discomfort or pain due to the underlying inflammation of the structures in the eye.

In the context of ciliary flushing, it is important to differentiate it from other forms of redness in the eye. For example, superficial corneal vessels injected in conjunctivitis would not present with the characteristic pattern of redness seen in ciliary flushing, as those vessels tend to be more centralized and less pronounced towards the limbus. Similarly, inflammation of the retina in glaucoma or swelling of the optic nerve in neuropathy involves different parts of the visual system, which do not directly lead to the distinctive pericorneal flushing. Therefore, recognizing ciliary flushing as indicative of corneal or surrounding tissue inflammation is essential in clinical practice when assessing eye conditions.