Provide a valuable resource to your clients or customers by linking to this resource page. Just place the following link on your website.
Koeppe nodules are small inflammatory cell deposits located at the pupillary margin of the iris. They are seen in anterior uveitis and can occur in both granulomatous and non-granulomatous inflammation. Koeppe nodules are identified during a slit-lamp exam and often appear alongside other signs of uveitis such as cells and flare in the anterior chamber. Treating the underlying inflammation typically leads to improvement.
read more about koeppe nodules iris ...Koeppe nodules form when inflammation inside the eye causes inflammatory cells to collect at the iris pupillary border.
Common drivers of anterior uveitis include autoimmune or inflammatory disease and certain infections.
Your clinician may recommend a targeted workup if uveitis is recurrent or severe.
An eye doctor diagnoses Koeppe nodules using a slit-lamp microscope during an eye exam.
The clinician also checks for related findings such as posterior synechiae, keratic precipitates, and signs of elevated eye pressure.
Additional testing may be considered to identify underlying systemic or infectious causes based on your history and exam.
Treatment focuses on controlling the uveitis and addressing the underlying cause.
Follow-up is important because uveitis can recur and can cause complications if undertreated.
Koeppe nodules indicate active or recent intraocular inflammation and warrant prompt evaluation.
Seek urgent care for severe pain, sudden blurred vision, marked light sensitivity, or a very red eye, because these can signal significant uveitis activity or complications.
Do not self-treat with leftover steroid drops, because improper use can worsen infections or raise eye pressure.
No. Koeppe nodules are at the pupillary margin, while Busacca nodules are on the iris surface and are more typical of granulomatous uveitis.
They often improve when the underlying uveitis is treated effectively. Resolution time varies depending on the cause and how quickly inflammation is controlled.
The nodules themselves may not directly block vision, but the underlying uveitis can blur vision and cause complications if not treated promptly.
See an eye doctor promptly if you have eye pain, redness, light sensitivity, or new blurred vision.
If symptoms are severe or vision is decreasing, seek urgent evaluation because uveitis can threaten vision without proper treatment.
Acute Anterior Uveitis. EyeWiki. https://eyewiki.org/Acute_Anterior_Uveitis. Date Accessed February 2, 2026.
Sarcoid Uveitis. EyeWiki. https://eyewiki.org/Sarcoid_Uveitis. Date Accessed February 2, 2026.
Iritis. StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430909/. Date Accessed February 2, 2026.
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Uveitis in Children: Characteristics and Complications. PubMed Central. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8160489/. Date Accessed February 2, 2026.
Uveitis: Anterior Uveitis. Modern Optometry. https://modernod.com/articles/2024-oct/uveitis-anterior-uveitis. Date Accessed February 2, 2026.