Patterns of uveitis in a Philippine eye clinic

Abstract

Objective: To describe the distribution and clinical characteristics of endogenous uveitis among patients in a Philippine eye clinic.

Methods: The demographic and clinical data of 103 uveitis patients consulting at the Asian Eye Institute over an 18-month period were analyzed and compared with a previous report.

Results: The mean age at consultation was 43 ± 17 years (range 5 to 83). The male-to-female ratio was 1:1.3. The racial distribution consisted of Malay (77%), Chinese (22%), and Indian (1%). Forty-one patients (40%) presented with anterior uveitis, 15 (15%) with intermediate uveitis, 19 (18%) with posterior uveitis, and 28 (27%) with panuveitis. The most frequent diagnoses were idiopathic anterior uveitis (24%), pars planitis (14%), multifocal choroiditis and panuveitis (9%), Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome (9%), and Behcet’s disease (8%). Long-term systemic therapy was needed for control of uveitis in 66 (64%) patients. Twenty patients (20%) developed sight-threatening ocular complications. Twelve patients (12%) with panuveitis became bilaterally blind.

Conclusions: The patterns of uveitis in the Philippines have markedly changed over the past 2 decades. Significant rates of ocular complications and blindness were found in this series, particularly among patients with panuveitis. These patients should be treated aggressively with corticosteroids and long-term immuno-suppressive therapy.