Vision-threatening complications in childhood uveitis

Purpose. We analyzed the epidemiologic data and vision-threatening complications in different forms of childhood uveitis. Methods. This retrospective study included 187 consecutive patients with onset of uveitis before the age of 16 years classified as anterior (AU), intermediate (IU), posterior (PU), and panuveitis (PanU). We analyzed the epidemiologic data as well as visual acuity, uveitic complications and the conservative and surgical therapy. Results. Associated disease was observed in 85 of 187 patients. The most common complications in AU patients were cataract, posterior synechiae, band keratopathy and CME. IU was accompanied by dense vitreous opacities, cataract and CME. Macular scars were the most frequent cause for visual loss in PU. PanU was complicated by dense vitreous opacities, cataract, retinal detachment, CME and phthisis bulbi. Conclusions. Childhood uveitis is frequently associated with systemic immune-mediated diseases. The diverse uveitis types have different but typical complications.