Evaluation of the SUN Classification Criteria for the Uveitides in an Academic Uveitis Practice

Abstract

Purpose : To evaluate the ability of the new Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) classification criteria for uveitides to classify patients in an academic uveitis practice.

Methods : A retrospective review of electronic medical records was conducted for all patients attending the uveitis service at the University of Colorado Hospital between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2020. Patients with scleritis, ocular cicatricial pemphigoid and peripheral ulcerative keratitis were excluded. We attempted to classify each patients’ uveitis using the SUN classification criteria. We recorded whether classification was possible as well as their clinical diagnosis by a uveitis specialist.

Results : Of the 1143 patients with uveitis, 50.0% (572/1143) had a disease that was not listed in the SUN classification system, and so no attempt to classify these patients was possible. Of the remaining 571 patients, 522 (91.4%) were able to be classified by SUN and in 94.3% (492/522) of cases their SUN classification matched their clinical diagnosis by a uveitis specialist.

Conclusions : A significant percentage of patients at an academic uveitis practice had a disease for which no SUN classification criteria existed. In cases where classification by SUN could be attempted, the system performed well and agreed with their clinical diagnosis in most cases.

This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.