The Manchester Uveitis Clinic: The first 3000 patients, 2: Uveitis Manifestations, Complications, Medical and Surgical Management

Abstract

Purpose: To demonstrate the manifestations and complications of uveitis, and their medical and surgical management, in a very large group of patients attending the Manchester Uveitis Clinic (MUC), a specialist uveitis clinic in the Northwest of England, UK.

Methods: Retrospective retrieval of data on a computerized database incorporating all new referrals to MUC from 1991 to 2013.

Results: A total of 3000 new patients with uveitis were seen during a 22-year period, of which 25.2% had a single acute episode, 13.6% had acute recurrent uveitis, 20.2% had chronic fluctuating uveitis, and 41.0% had chronic unremitting uveitis. The commonest complications were cataract (35% of patients), macular edema (20.5%), and glaucoma (19.5%). Oral steroids were required in 36% of patients, oral immunosuppression in 16%, and biologic treatment in 2%. Major intraocular surgery was required in 28%.

Conclusions: Oral steroid usage is not an independent risk factor for cataract formation in patients with uveitis. Oral immunosuppression usage has increased 4-fold during this study period.

Keywords: Cataract; complications; glaucoma; immunosuppression; macular edema; uveitis.