Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To determine the effect of duration, severity, and location of uveitis on the length of ciliary processes. Methods: Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) of ciliary processes was obtained in superior, temporal, nasal, and inferior quadrants in 91 uveitic eyes and 16 normal eyes. The five longest ciliary processes measured in microns from each quadrant were analyzed with regards to duration (acute, chronic, and recurrent), severity (aggressive, moderate, and mild), and location (anterior, intermediate, posterior, and diffuse) of uveitis. Results: Ciliary processes measurements were as follows. Duration: inferior (chronic, 356.33; acute, 423.96; normal, 534.64; P = 0.004); nasal (chronic, 434.69; acute, 457.46; normal, 565.33; P = 0.017); temporal (chronic, 467.75; acute, 487.75; normal, 582.48; P = 0.015); and superior (chronic, 498.70; acute, 549.97; normal, 581.17; P = 0.127). Severity: inferior (aggressive, 334.38; moderate, 392.59; mild, 429.50; normal, 523.23; P = 0.007); nasal (aggressive, 413.79; moderate, 465.99; mild, 444.98; normal, 562.74; P = 0.018); temporal (aggressive, 429.52; moderate, 509.47; mild, 492.55; normal, 577.48; P = 0.007); and superior (aggressive, 480.44; moderate, 558.62; mild, 480.08; normal, 568.33; P = 0.146). Location: inferior (diffuse, 338.57; intermediate, 533.00; anterior, 421.18; normal, 530.81; P = 0.003), nasal (diffuse, 423.04; intermediate, 502.90; anterior, 464.67; normal, 565.47; P = 0.024), temporal (diffuse, 441.29; intermediate, 558.00; anterior, 516.77, normal, 584.99; P = 0.007), and superior (diffuse, 489.25; intermediate, 561.60; anterior, 545.46; normal, 578.05; P = 0.190). Conclusions: Significant differences in ciliary process lengths were found between eyes with and without uveitis. Greatest damage to ciliary processes were found in eyes with chronic, aggressive, and diffuse uveitis. Superior quadrant ciliary processes were least susceptible to damage. Information on ciliary processes may be used to guide management of patients with uveitis.