Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: This study is aimed at delineating visual prognosticators in intermediate uveitis as well as analyzing in detail the course and complications of the disease. Method: The records of 84 consecutive patients (153 eyes) with intermediate uveitis with a minimum of one year follow-up were reviewed in detail. Bivariate and multivariate statistical models were applied to different potential prognostic factors to determine the relative odds of visual impairment and complications among patients with each characteristic. Main outcome measures included final visual acuity, change in visual acuity, and complications of the disease, namely cataract formation, optic disc and peripheral neovascularization, retinal breaks and detachment during follow-up. Results: The final average visual acuity for all patients was not statistically different form initial visual acuity (initial VA 20/55 (-log10=0.443), final VA 20/46 (-log10=0.365), change in visual acuity= -0.078. Multiple regression analysis showed that poor visual outcome is strongly associated with low intial levels of visual acuity (p=0.0001), the presence of vasculitis (p=0.014) and cystoid macular edema (p=0.0029) at presentation, as well as prolonged duration (more than 4 years) of the disease (p=0.0001) and the number of exacerbations per follow-up year (p=0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that low visual acuity at onset as well as prolonged duration of the disease are also associated with the occurrence of at least one of the complications of intermediate uveitis. Conclusion: We suggest that the decision for treatment in patients with intermediate uveitis should be based on the presence of active inflammation, prolonged duration of the disease or the presence of at least one exacerbation per year rather than an arbitrary level of visual acuity.
Keywords: 353 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications • 611 uvea