Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis-associated glaucoma: a retrospective comparison of primary Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation and trabeculectomy with mitomycin C

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of primary trabeculectomy with mitomycin C and Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation in patients with Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHIC)-related glaucoma, a rare complication of an uncommon form of uveitis. Methods : In this retrospective comparative case series, 26 FHIC-associated glaucoma patients received trabeculectomy (n=12) or an AGV (n=14). Primary outcome measures were surgical success, defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤21 mmHg, decreasing ≥20% from baseline, and no secondary glaucoma surgery. Secondary outcome measures were the number of glaucoma medications, complications, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and IOP. Results: The follow-up was 34.0±17.7 months in patients that received trabeculectomy and 33.4±18.6 months in AGV (P= 0.837). The cumulative probability of success rate was 41.7% for trabeculectomy and 85.7% for AGV, with no significant difference in complications (P>0.05). The IOP in patients that received trabeculectomy dropped from 23.4±3.3 mmHg to 21.6±5.2 mmHg at the final visit (P= 0.041). In patients that received AGV, the IOP decreased from 24±7.8 to 17.1±2.6 mmHg (P= 0.003). The number of glaucoma medications at baseline were 3.3±0.5 in those that received trabeculectomy and 3±0.6 in those that received AGV (P=0.233), and decreased to 2.4±1.0 (P=0.008) and 1.7±0.6 (P=0.002), respectively. BCVA was equal in both groups and did not change (P>0.05). Conclusion: Primary AGV had a higher success rate than trabeculectomy, with patients also needing fewer medications for the management of FHIC-associated glaucoma.

Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis-associated glaucoma: a retrospective comparison of primary Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation and trabeculectomy with mitomycin C

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of primary trabeculectomy with mitomycin C and Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation in patients with Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHIC)-related glaucoma, a rare complication of an uncommon form of uveitis. Methods : In this retrospective comparative case series, 26 FHIC-associated glaucoma patients received trabeculectomy (n=12) or an AGV (n=14). Primary outcome measures were surgical success, defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤21 mmHg, decreasing ≥20% from baseline, and no secondary glaucoma surgery. Secondary outcome measures were the number of glaucoma medications, complications, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and IOP. Results: The follow-up was 34.0±17.7 months in patients that received trabeculectomy and 33.4±18.6 months in AGV (P= 0.837). The cumulative probability of success rate was 41.7% for trabeculectomy and 85.7% for AGV, with no significant difference in complications (P>0.05). The IOP in patients that received trabeculectomy dropped from 23.4±3.3 mmHg to 21.6±5.2 mmHg at the final visit (P= 0.041). In patients that received AGV, the IOP decreased from 24±7.8 to 17.1±2.6 mmHg (P= 0.003). The number of glaucoma medications at baseline were 3.3±0.5 in those that received trabeculectomy and 3±0.6 in those that received AGV (P=0.233), and decreased to 2.4±1.0 (P=0.008) and 1.7±0.6 (P=0.002), respectively. BCVA was equal in both groups and did not change (P>0.05). Conclusion: Primary AGV had a higher success rate than trabeculectomy, with patients also needing fewer medications for the management of FHIC-associated glaucoma.

Intermediate Uveitis: What is the Natural Course of the Disease and Its Relationship with Other Systemic Diseases?

This study examined the natural course of intermediate uveitis, to find a possible correlation with systemic diseases and to identify the ocular complications. Patients were classified according to follow-up time in three groups: A (1-5 years) 12 pts, B (6-10 years) 10 pts, C (11-15 years or more) 6 pts for a total of 28 patients (52 eyes). We studied the recurrences, the complications of the disease and the overall prognosis. Eight patients were found to be suffering from systemic diseases: sarcoidosis 2, Adamantiades-Behcet 2, multiple sclerosis 3 and Lyme disease 1. Cataract was found in 21 eyes (40.5%) and macular changes in 20 eyes (38.4%) but chronic cystoid macular edema persisted in only six cases (12.5%). Group C presented more complications than group B. Group A had the fewest. The frequency of recurrences was 1-5 for group A. 1-3 for group B and 1-2 for group C. Four patients received no therapy, 15 received steroids and nine received cyclosporine and steroids. In this series intermediate uveitis was bilateral in 85.8% of patients and related with systemic diseases in 28.5%. Recurrences appeared mainly during the first five years. The longer the presence of the disease the more frequent were complications and the final visual acuity depended mostly on the severity of the initial attack and the number of exacerbations.

Dexamethasone implants in paediatric patients with noninfectious intermediate or posterior uveitis: first prospective exploratory case series

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dexamethasone (DEX) implants in paediatric patients with noninfectious intermediate or posterior uveitis.

METHODS

Prospective single center exploratory case series. Children and adolescents, 6 to 17 years old, with a vitreous haze score of ≥1.5+ or cystoid macular edema (CME) of >300 μm were enrolled. Vitreous haze score at month 2 was chosen as primary endpoint. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT) and concomitant medication at month 6 were defined as secondary endpoints. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and cataract formation were determined as safety endpoints.

RESULTS

Three out of 6 eligible patients participated in the case series. At month 2, vitreous haze was reduced from a score of 1.5+ to 0.5+ and 0 and BCVA improved by ≥3 lines, ≥4 lines and ≥2 lines of Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy (ETDRS)-letters, respectively. Visual acuity gain was accompanied by a CRT reduction of -186 μm and -83 μm in the first and third patient, in whom CME was the indication for DEX implantation. A reduction of concomitant medication was achieved in 1 patient. IOP increase was seen in all 3 patients, but could be treated sufficiently with primarily IOP lowering medications and without need for glaucoma surgery. Cataract progression did not occur.

CONCLUSIONS

DEX implants led to an improvement in all endpoints, especially BCVA. This study confirms that IOP rises may also occur in the paediatric population and should be monitored and treated appropriately.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials (EudraCT)- nr: 2013-000541-39.

Remission of Intermediate Uveitis: Incidence and Predictive Factors

PURPOSE

To evaluate the incidence of remission among patients with intermediate uveitis; to identify factors potentially predictive of remission.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

Involved eyes of patients with primary noninfectious intermediate uveitis at 4 academic ocular inflammation subspecialty practices, followed sufficiently long to meet the remission outcome definition, were studied retrospectively by standardized chart review data. Remission of intermediate uveitis was defined as a lack of inflammatory activity at ≥2 visits spanning ≥90 days in the absence of any corticosteroid or immunosuppressant medications. Factors potentially predictive of intermediate uveitis remission were evaluated using survival analysis.

RESULTS

Among 849 eyes (of 510 patients) with intermediate uveitis followed over 1934 eye-years, the incidence of intermediate uveitis remission was 8.6/100 eye-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.4-10.1). Factors predictive of disease remission included prior pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) (hazard ratio [HR] [vs no PPV] = 2.39; 95% CI, 1.42-4.00), diagnosis of intermediate uveitis within the last year (HR [vs diagnosis >5 years ago] =3.82; 95% CI, 1.91-7.63), age ≥45 years (HR [vs age <45 years] = 1.79; 95% CI, 1.03-3.11), female sex (HR = 1.61; 95% CI, 1.04-2.49), and Hispanic race/ethnicity (HR [vs white race] = 2.81; 95% CI, 1.23-6.41). Presence/absence of a systemic inflammatory disease, laterality of uveitis, and smoking status were not associated with differential incidence.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that intermediate uveitis is a chronic disease with an overall low rate of remission. Recently diagnosed patients and older, female, and Hispanic patients were more likely to remit. With regard to management, pars plana vitrectomy was associated with increased probability of remission.

Quality of Life and Risks Associated with Systemic Anti-inflammatory Therapy versus Fluocinolone Acetonide Intraocular Implant for Intermediate Uveitis, Posterior Uveitis, or Panuveitis: Fifty-four-Month Results of the Multicenter Uveitis Steroid Treatment Trial and Follow-up Study

PURPOSE

To evaluate the risks and quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes of fluocinolone acetonide implant versus systemic therapy with corticosteroid and immunosuppression when indicated for intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, and panuveitis.

DESIGN

Additional follow-up of a randomized trial cohort.

PARTICIPANTS

Two hundred fifty-five patients with intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, or panuveitis, randomized to implant or systemic therapy.

METHODS

Randomized subjects with intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, or panuveitis (479 eyes) were followed up over 54 months, with 79.2% completing the 54-month visit.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Local and systemic potential complications of the therapies and self-reported health utility and vision-related and generic health-related QoL were studied prospectively.

RESULTS

Among initially phakic eyes, cataract and cataract surgery occurred significantly more often in the implant group (hazard ratio [HR], 3.0; P = 0.0001; and HR, 3.8; P < 0.0001, respectively). In the implant group, most cataract surgery occurred within the first 2 years. Intraocular pressure elevation measures occurred more frequently in the implant group (HR range, 3.7-5.6; all P < 0.0001), and glaucoma (assessed annually) also occurred more frequently (26.3% vs. 10.2% by 48 months; HR, 3.0; P = 0.0002). In contrast, potential complications of systemic therapy, including measures of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, bone disease, and hematologic and serum chemistry indicators of immunosuppression toxicity, did not differ between groups through 54 months. Indices of QoL initially favored implant therapy by a modest margin. However, all summary measures of health utility and vision-related or generic health-related QoL were minimally and nonsignificantly different by 54 months, with the exception of the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey physical component summary score, which favored implant by a small margin at 54 months (3.17 on a scale of 100; P = 0.01, not adjusted for multiple comparisons). Mean QoL results were favorable in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that fluocinolone acetonide implant therapy is associated with a clinically important increased risk of glaucoma and cataract with respect to systemic therapy, suggesting that careful monitoring and early intervention to prevent glaucoma is warranted with implant therapy. Systemic therapy subjects avoided a significant excess of toxicities of systemic corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapies in the trial. Self-reported QoL measures initially favored implant therapy, but over time the measures converged, with generally favorable QoL in both groups.

Chronic candida endophthalmitis as a cause of intermediate uveitis

Intermediate uveitis is a subset of intraocular inflammation where vitritis is the most consistent sign, with or without snowball opacities or snow banks over the pars plana. Some patients will have an associated underlying systemic disease such as sarcoidosis, multiple sclerosis, ocular tuberculosis, inflammatory bowel disease, possibly Behçet's disease and intraocular lymphoma, whereas some will be classified as pars planitis in case of the lack of an identifiable systemic disease association. Our patient, a 47-year-old woman, developed intermediate uveitis after cataract surgery in her right eye, was misdiagnosed as pars planitis, and received steroid monotherapy for 8 months. Her inflammation only fully resolved after vitrectomy with removal of the intraocular lens (IOL) and capsular bag. Oral fluconazole and intravitreal amphotericin B injection had failed to resolve her inflammation when Candida albicans was identified as the cause of her persistent intermediate uveitis.

Long-term follow-up of inflammatory cystoid macular edema

PURPOSE

To determine the long-term functional and anatomical outcome of idiopathic uveitic cystoid macular edema (UCME).

METHODS

A longitudinal retrospective study was undertaken of the medical records of patients with UCME. All individuals were examined in the uveitis Service at the Moorfields Eye Hospital. The main outcome measures were change in visual acuity and anatomical outcome of UCME at diverse time points.

RESULTS

A total of 109 eyes (92 patients) with UCME were included in the analysis. Mean follow-up was 60 ± 45 months (median, 48 months). Mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity 1 month after the intervention improved significantly (P < 0.001) by 0.21 ± 0.27 and maintained at similar levels throughout the follow-up period. Visual acuity at the final follow-up improved in 75 eyes (69%), was deteriorated in 21 eyes (19%), and remained unchanged in 13 eyes (12%). Younger age and better visual acuity at baseline were associated with more favorable visual outcome (P < 0.001). Optical coherence tomography documentation of improvement or total resolution of UCME was observed in 84 eyes (77%) at the final follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Cystoid macular edema is a major complication in uveitis. Current management provides satisfactory long-term results for the majority of those individuals. Visual acuity 1 month after the intervention is usually indicative of the final functional outcome.

Randomized comparison of systemic anti-inflammatory therapy versus fluocinolone acetonide implant for intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis: the multicenter uveitis steroid treatment trial

OBJECTIVE

To compare the relative effectiveness of systemic corticosteroids plus immunosuppression when indicated (systemic therapy) versus fluocinolone acetonide implant (implant therapy) for noninfectious intermediate, posterior, or panuveitis (uveitis).

DESIGN

Randomized controlled parallel superiority trial.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with active or recently active uveitis.

METHODS

Participants were randomized (allocation ratio 1:1) to systemic or implant therapy at 23 centers (3 countries). Implant-assigned participants with bilateral uveitis were assigned to have each eye that warranted study treatment implanted. Treatment-outcome associations were analyzed by assigned treatment for all eyes with uveitis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Masked examiners measured the primary outcome: change in best-corrected visual acuity from baseline. Secondary outcomes included patient-reported quality of life, ophthalmologist-graded uveitis activity, and local and systemic complications of uveitis or therapy. Reading Center graders and glaucoma specialists assessing ocular complications were masked. Participants, ophthalmologists, and coordinators were unmasked.

RESULTS

On evaluation of changes from baseline to 24 months among 255 patients randomized to implant and systemic therapy (479 eyes with uveitis), the implant and systemic therapy groups had an improvement in visual acuity of +6.0 and +3.2 letters (P = 0.16, 95% confidence interval on difference in improvement between groups, -1.2 to +6.7 letters, positive values favoring implant), an improvement in vision-related quality of life of +11.4 and +6.8 units (P = 0.043), a change in EuroQol-EQ5D health utility of +0.02 and -0.02 (P = 0.060), and residual active uveitis in 12% and 29% (P=0.001), respectively. Over the 24 month period, implant-assigned eyes had a higher risk of cataract surgery (80%, hazard ratio [HR] = 3.3, P < 0.0001), treatment for elevated intraocular pressure (61%, HR=4.2, P < 0.0001), and glaucoma (17%, HR=4.2, P = 0.0008). Patients assigned to systemic therapy had more prescription-requiring infections than patients assigned to implant therapy (0.60 vs 0.36/person-year, P=0.034), without notable long-term consequences; systemic adverse outcomes otherwise were unusual in both groups, with minimal differences between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In each treatment group, mean visual acuity improved over 24 months, with neither approach superior to a degree detectable with the study's power. Therefore, the specific advantages and disadvantages identified should dictate selection between the alternative treatments in consideration of individual patients' particular circumstances. Systemic therapy with aggressive use of corticosteroid-sparing immunosuppression was well tolerated, suggesting that this approach is reasonably safe for local and systemic inflammatory disorders.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Effect of a drug combination treatment on ocular perfusion in recurrent idiopathic intermediate uveitis

PURPOSE

To test the effect of a drug combination therapy on ocular perfusion in human eyes affected by idiopathic intermediate uveitis.

METHODS

Seven patients (12 eyes) showing active signs of intermediate uveitis, with at least two more similar episodes reported within the previous 12 months, were enrolled in a prospective case series. Two fellow healthy eyes of two of the enrolled patients were studied as internal controls. Color Doppler imaging of the central retinal artery (CRA), the ophthalmic artery (OA), and the posterior ciliary arteries (PCAs) was performed at the time of enrollment, and at 6 and 12 months after starting treatment with oral fluorocortolone, cyclosporine, and parenteral methotrexate. The best-corrected visual acuity was concurrently measured as a second parameter.

RESULTS

In the 12 affected eyes, the mean visual acuity (+/-SD) improved from 0.15(+/-0.12) to 0.04(+/-0.18) LogMAR (paired samples Student's t-test: p = 0.015). The resistivity index (RI +/- SD) of the CRA decreased from 0.81(+/-0.13) to 0.71(+/-0.13)(p = 0.0091). Further, the variation of the RI in the PCAs reached a borderline significance (p = 0.062), decreasing from 0.71(+/-0.12) to 0.61(+/-0.12). No significant changes were observed in the OA. Moreover, eyes showing a visual improvement of > or =0.1 (LogMAR) were more likely to show a > or =10% improvement of the RI for the CRA (Fisher's exact test: p = 0.018; power = 90%; alpha probability = 5%; odds ratio = 2,4).

CONCLUSIONS

In eyes affected by idiopathic intermediate uveitis, treated with a systemic drug combination therapy, the improvement of the visual acuity seems to correlate with a proportional improvement of the retrobulbar circulation.

Validity of using vision-related quality of life as a treatment end point in intermediate and posterior uveitis

AIM

To evaluate the responsiveness of the Vision core module 1 (VCM1) vision-related quality of life (VR-QOL) questionnaire to changes in visual acuity in patients with posterior and intermediate uveitis and to validate its use as a clinical end point in uveitis.

METHODS

Logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity and VR-QOL using the VCM1 questionnaire were prospectively recorded in 37 patients with active posterior segment intraocular inflammation before starting systemic immunosuppression with ciclosporin, tacrolimus or the anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agent, p55TNFr-Ig, and again 3 months later. Spearman analysis was used to correlate improvements in visual acuity and VR-QOL between baseline and 3 months.

RESULTS

The correlation between changes in visual acuity and VR-QOL was moderate to good for the worse eye (r = 0.47, p = 0.003), but poor for the better eye (r = -0.05, p = 0.91). The responsiveness indices effect size and standardised response mean were 0.57 and 0.59, respectively, showing that the VCM1 questionnaire is moderately responsive to immunsosuppressive therapy for active uveitis.

CONCLUSION

Changes in VR-QOL measured with the VCM1 questionnaire correlated moderately well with changes in the worse eye visual acuity, suggesting that the VCM1 is a valid instrument for monitoring response to treatment in uveitis.

Vitrectomy for juvenile uveitis: prognostic factors for the long-term functional outcome

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the long-term effect of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in children and adolescents with chronic uveitis on visual function, anatomical outcome, and the requirement of systemic treatment. Further, predictive preoperative factors associated with a beneficial visual outcome were assessed.

METHODS

Retrospective review of 29 eyes of 23 consecutive paediatric and juvenile patients below 20 years of age with chronic uveitis who underwent a PPV for visually significant opacities in 25 eyes, vitreous haemorrhage in three eyes, and retinal detachment in one eye. The clinical diagnosis was chronic intermediate uveitis in 22 eyes and retinal vasculitis of different origin in seven eyes.

RESULTS

LogMAR visual acuity improved from an average of 0.91 to 0.33 (P<0.001). Cystoid macular oedema (CME) was significantly reduced in eight of 10 eyes postoperatively (P=0.021). In the multiple regression analysis, a low preoperative logMAR visual acuity and the presence of a CME had a negative influence on the final logMAR visual acuity. Furthermore, the appearance of chronic uveitis relapses was significantly reduced from 15 eyes before to seven eyes after surgery (P=0.042).

CONCLUSIONS

PPV has a beneficial effect on the course and the complications of chronic uveitis in paediatric and juvenile patients with respect to the anatomical and visual outcome. Preoperative logMAR visual acuity and clinically significant CME were the most accurate predictors for the functional outcome.

Long-term follow-up of intermediate uveitis in children

PURPOSE

To analyze the clinical manifestations, remissions, and visual prognosis of intermediate uveitis in children, and to identify the risk factors for poor visual outcome.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

Institutional study of 32 consecutive patients examined at a tertiary referral center with intermediate uveitis and the onset of ocular disease before the age of 16 years. Numerous variables were assessed, including age and gender distribution, laboratory data, the presence of systemic diseases, onset and course of ocular inflammation, clinical features and complications, therapeutic strategies and their outcomes, remission and final visual acuity, and characteristics associated with poor visual outcome.

RESULTS

Bilateral involvement was observed in 94% of the patients. Remission was observed in seven out of 15 patients (47%) with completed follow-up of five years. For our 32 subjects, we found a mean time to remission of 6.4 years (SE 0.7, CI 5.1 to 7.7). Visual outcome was favorable as only three patients developed unilateral acuity of less than 0.1 after five-year follow-up, and no additional blind eyes manifested. No associated systemic diseases were established. Optic disk edema was the most frequent complication observed (71%). Cystoid macular edema (CME) was observed in 44% of the patients and was the most common cause of visual loss.

CONCLUSIONS

Intermediate uveitis of childhood might exhibit a self-limiting course after several years. Visual loss was limited despite the high rate of severe ocular complications.

Interferon as a treatment for uveitis associated with multiple sclerosis

AIM

In addition to optic neuritis (ON), multiple sclerosis (MS) may also involve the eye with a typically bilateral intermediate uveitis. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy of type I interferons (IFN) for the treatment of MS associated uveitis.

METHODS

In this non-randomised, retrospective observational case series 13 patients (eight female, five male) with proved MS and associated uveitis from five uveitis centres who were treated with interferon beta1a were included. Visual acuity (VA), cell count in the aqueous humour and vitreous, as well as the presence of cystoid macula oedema (CMO) were observed.

RESULTS

All except one patient had a bilateral form of intermediate uveitis (total of 24 eyes). Seven patients had documented CMO before IFN treatment (n = 13 eyes). Median duration of treatment was 24.6 months (range 7.9-78.7). VA improved in 17 eyes (comparing VA before therapy and at last follow up); while 10 eyes (36%) improved >or=3 Snellen lines. Aqueous cell count improved by 1.2 (SD 1.1) grades in all eyes. Vitreous cell count improved by 1.7 (1.4) in all eyes. Only two patients still had minimal CMO on last follow up angiographically. CMO resolved after or during IFN treatment in nine eyes.

CONCLUSIONS

IFN has been shown to have beneficial effects in patients with MS and/or ON. As shown in the models of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) and uveitis, the neurological and ophthalmological manifestations seem to share similar pathogenic mechanisms. Treatment of MS associated uveitis with IFN appears to have beneficial effects on VA, intraocular inflammation activity, and the presence of CMO.

The use of low dose methotrexate in children with chronic anterior and intermediate uveitis

AIM

To assess the efficacy of low dose methotrexate (MTX) therapy for children with chronic anterior and intermediate uveitis.

METHODS

A retrospective case review of 10 children who received MTX for chronic uveitis at a tertiary referral centre was performed. The following data were recorded for each patient: age, sex, race, duration of uveitis, primary diagnosis, anatomical localisation of uveitis, corticosteroid therapy, dose range of MTX, duration of MTX therapy, and side effects of MTX therapy. Several clinical parameters were evaluated to study the effect of MTX. These included visual acuity, anterior chamber inflammation, and topical and oral corticosteroid requirement.

RESULTS

After MTX VA of 6/6 or better was present in 100% right eyes and 80% left eyes (p = 0.055 and p = 0.016, respectively). Anterior chamber inflammation decreased in 60% of children after MTX (p = 0.0168). The requirement of topical steroid decreased from a mean of 5.6 times a day before MTX to 1.5 times a day after MTX (p = 0.005). The dose of oral steroid decreased from a mean of 18 mg per day to 2.85 mg per day (p = 0.012). The most common adverse effect was nausea (20%). No patient required discontinuation of MTX because of side effects.

CONCLUSION

MTX is effective and safe for chronic anterior and intermediate uveitis in children. An increase awareness of its efficacy is required among paediatricians and ophthalmologists to prevent sight threatening complication of chronic uveitis and its treatment with long term use of steroids.

Quality of life and visual function in patients with intermediate uveitis

AIMS

To assess visual function, vision related quality of life (VR-QOL), and general health related quality of life (HR-QOL) in intermediate uveitis (IU).

METHODS

VR-QOL and HR-QOL were evaluated in 42 patients with IU using the VCM1 and SF-36 questionnaires, respectively. LogMAR visual acuity (VA), Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity (CS), Farnsworth-Munsell 100 hue colour vision (CV), and Estermann visual field (VF) were recorded monocularly and binocularly.

RESULTS

Median (interquartile range) visual acuity (VA) and CS of 72 affected eyes were 0.1 (0.015-0.3) and 1.55 (1.35-1.65), respectively. 9.5% of patients had a VCM1 score of more than 2.0, indicating "more than a little" concern over vision. Worse eye VA (p=0.045) and CS (p=0.042) were predictive of a VCM1 score of more than 2.0 independently of age, sex, uveitis duration, laterality and activity, systemic uveitis therapy, and medical co-morbidity. The physical and mental component summary scores of the SF-36 were significantly worse in those who reported significant impairment of vision on the VCM1 than those who did not.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of patients with IU maintain good visual function and quality of life. VR-QOL impairment in IU correlates with vision in the worse eye and is associated with impaired HR-QOL.

Pars plana vitrectomy in patients with intermediate uveitis

OBJECTIVE

To describe the effect of pars plana vitrectomy in patients with intermediate uveitis.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of the clinical course and visual outcome following pars plana vitrectomy in patients with intermediate uveitis.

RESULTS

Thirty-two patients (43 eyes) were included in the study. Pars plana vitrectomy was combined with cataract surgery in 22 of 43 eyes. The intermediate uveitis was associated with sarcoidosis in 16 eyes and multiple sclerosis in five eyes, and was idiopathic in 22 eyes. The mean (+/-SD) follow-up was 45.6 (+/-38) months (range: 6-146 months). In 19 of 43 eyes (44.1%), there was improvement in the course of uveitis, allowing the discontinuation of immunosuppressive treatment in seven patients. Cystoid macular edema resolved in 12 of 37 eyes (32.4%). Forty of 43 eyes achieved a better or retained their initial visual acuity. The remaining three eyes deteriorated by two or more lines in the Snellen chart due to the progression of cataract, chronic cystoid macular edema, and glaucomatous optic atrophy, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that pars plana vitrectomy may have a beneficial effect on the course of uveitis and the associated complications of cystoid macular edema, thereby reducing the need for long-term immunosuppression. Pars plana vitrectomy combined with simultaneous cataract surgery can improve the visual outcome in these patients.

Tear deficiency in Fuchs' intermediate uveitis

OBJECTIVE

To assess quantitatively and qualitatively tear secretion in Fuchs' intermediate (heterochromic) uveitis to detect any possible anomaly linked to Fuchs' uveitis.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

University eye clinic, Chieti, Italy.

PATIENTS

Thirty consecutive white patients aged 32 to 65 years with unilateral Fuchs' heterochromic uveitis.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Results of Schirmer's test I, tear film breakup time, conjunctival mucus ferning.

RESULTS

Schirmer's test I showed a tear deficiency in 15 patients; the tear film breakup time and ferning were abnormal in these patients. There was a significant difference in the test results between the affected eyes and the fellow, unaffected eyes (p < 0.001). There was no relation between tear deficiency and age.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of tear anomalies only in the affected eye of patients with Fuchs' heterochromic uveitis suggests a link between Fuchs' uveitis and tear deficiency.

[Early vitrectomy in endogenous juvenile uveitis intermedia--a long-term study]

BACKGROUND

The intermediate uveitis is one of the most common intraocular manifestations of inflammation during infancy and adolescence. The success of intensive pharmacological treatment is rather limited and often associated with heavy side effects.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In 25 eyes with juvenile uveitis intermedia (age of the patients between 5 and 18 years, mean 13.5 years) and visual acuities between 0.02 and 0.4 (mean 0.19) an early vitrectomy was performed after failure of conservative treatment and peripheral cryocoagulation.

RESULTS

Almost all patients (22 out of 25) showed an improvement of visual acuity within the first 6 months of the surgery. Among the patients with a remarkable improvement of visual acuity 7 eyes had a chronic cystoid macular oedema which showed a regression postoperatively. Additionally, the number and the course of inflammatory periods could be reduced postoperatively. An increase of preexisting lens opacities, however, has not been noticed even after a follow-up period of 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show that an early vitrectomy in cases of juvenile uveitis intermedia often leads to a stabilization or an improvement of visual acuity and a regression of the inflammatory attacks (episodes). Therefore, in children and adolescents with endogenous uveitis intermedia a pars plana vitrectomy instead of a long-term systemic immunosuppression associated with heavy side-effects should be considered.

[Value of vitrectomy in intermediate uveitis and Behçet's disease with hyalitis. A study of 400 cases]

Can vitrectomy help to understand the vitreous role in intermediate uveitis and Behçet's disease with vitritis without retinal detachment? 400 vitrectomies were decided because of vitreous changes but, over all, if macular changes were seen clinically or on the angiogram in 58 Behçet's disease and 342 intermediate uveitis including 59 children cases. Visual acuity, clinical, angiographical and visual field controls, recurrences, reduction of the medical treatment and growth were followed during 1 to 9 years. The vitrectomy products were compared to those of other inflammatory origin vitreous, the both representing 149 cases. Vitrectomy at the early stage of only posterior interface changes prevent the macular edema but this one is irreversible. The preexisting angiographical lesions have not regressed but they are generally quiet. The RD incidence is lower even if it is possible after vitrectomy, in 1.2% of the cases (1% in late vitrectomies). Recurrences and further medical treatment are reduced. This psychological point of view is important. Thus, vitrectomy at alone posterior interface change stage avoid ocular complications. Its pathogenic role in intermediate uveitis is not demonstrated; it seems more a secondary than a primary process.