Special considerations in the evaluation and management of uveitis in children

Abstract

Purpose: To review issues related to the diagnosis, examination, and treatment of children with uveitis that are important for ophthalmologists.

Design: Literature review.

Method: A review was made of pertinent reports from the medical literature, with commentary based on the authors' experiences and on discussions at an international workshop.

Results: There are differences between children and adults in the differential diagnosis and manifestations of uveitis that should be considered during evaluation. There may be a higher risk of some ocular complications such as uveitic glaucoma, and the presence of other unique complications, such as amblyopia, in young patients during follow-up. With regard to treatment, children with uveitis may have unique dosing requirements and drug-associated risks such as growth retardation with systemic corticosteroids that must be considered. Examination and treatment may also be more difficult with children because of problems with patient cooperation.

Conclusions: There are unique patient care issues associated with uveitis in children that must be considered by care providers. Attention to these issues will improve the well-being of this patient population.