Patterns of Intermediate Uveitis in Children Presenting at a Tertiary Eye Care Center in South India

Purpose: To study the patterns of intermediate uveitis in the pediatric age group in a referral eye care center in South India.

Methods: This is a study of twenty consecutive patients under 16 years of age with intermediate uveitis, conducted at a tertiary referral center. Numerous variables were assessed, including age and gender distribution, laboratory data, the presence of systemic diseases, onset and course of ocular inflammation, clinical features, their complications, therapeutic strategies with their outcomes, remission, final visual acuity (VA), and characteristics associated with poor visual outcome.

Results: Bilateral involvement was observed in 80% of the patients. Remission was observed in five out of 7 patients (78%) with completed follow-up of 5 years. Final VA improved by at least two lines in 11 patients, remained stable in 6 patients, and worsened in 3 patients. The etiological diagnosis showed one patient with Bechet's disease, one with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, 1 with human leukocyte antigen B27 associated uveitis, 9 with laboratory proven tuberculosis, and 3 with sarcoidosis and 5 where it was idiopathic. The mean follow-up was 4.8 years (range 3-8 years). Cataract was the most frequent complication observed (40%). Glaucoma, choroidal neovascularization, and amblyopia accounted for worsening of vision in three patients.

Conclusion: Median time of development of complications is about 3 years based on our study. Intermediate uveitis of childhood might exhibit a self-limiting course after several years. Visual recovery is good in the majority, and visual loss is limited despite the high rate of ocular complications.