Abstract
Purpose :
To describe the characteristics and outcomes of pediatric uveitis seen and managed at a tertiary care center in New York City.
Methods :
Charts of pediatric patients (<18 years of age) with a diagnosis of uveitis seen on the Uveitis Service at the Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital between 2017 and 2020 were reviewed. Gender, anatomical location of uveitis, laterality, uveitis etiology, age of uveitis onset, visual outcome, need for immunomodulatory therapy, need for surgery, and drug free remission, were collected.
Results :
A total of 78 patient charts were reviewed. Most patients were female (71.8%). Anterior uveitis was the most common type (78.2%). The most common etiologies were idiopathic (48.7%) and JIA (37.2%). 80.8% children had undergone treatment with immunomodulatory therapy (IMT) during their disease course. Of these, 46% have discontinued their IMT during the follow-up period: 89.7% remained in drug-free remission at 5 years. 24.4% of children required surgery. Most of the children (94.3%) had vision of 20/40 or better in at least one eye, and no patients were legally blind.
Conclusions :
Pediatric uveitis patients managed at a tertiary care center often required immunomodulatory therapy, and 1/4 required surgery. Great visual outcomes were achievable, and many children remain inflammation free after discontinuation of IMT.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.