Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: Visual loss from uveitis may take many years to develop and cross sectional studies are biased towards long-standing disease and complex referrals. Contemporary visual loss from the general uveitis population is unknown. We performed a prospective study of uveitis complications in a primary referral population. Methods:570 consecutive new uveitis patients [mean age 47yr] presenting to three district hospitals were followed for a median of 20 months [range 3-83]. Ocular surgery and visual loss [<6/12] due to uveitis were the primary endpoints. Baseline risk factors were established by logistic regression and survival analysis. Results: Visual loss or surgery occured in 51 patients [8.9%], the majority within two months of presentation. Risk factors were Age >60y at onset OR 2.5[1.3-4.6], p=0.005 and chronic anterior or posterior disease compared to acute anterior uveitis OR 8.4[4.3-16.2] p=0.001. There was no difference between hospitals or relation to race or gender. At 6m 4.4% and at 18m 6.7% of patients suffered poor outcome with no significant change on extended follow up. There was no difference in outcome between chronic anterior and posterior uveitis. Conclusions: Complications at presentation of uveitis, especially in the elderly are the major contemporary source of poor outcome in uveitis. Late complications are rare in the general uveitis population.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: out • uveitis-clinical/animal model • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: ris