Pediatric uveitis: a retrospective analysis at a tertiary eye care hospital in South India

PURPOSE: To analyze the demographics, etiology, complications, treatment modalities, and visual outcomes in pediatric uveitis patients at a tertiary eye care hospital. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records of pediatric uveitis patients who presented with us from January 2014 to January 2020 was evaluated. RESULTS: Out of the 178 pediatric uveitis patients, 65 children were included in the study. The most common age group was 6-10 years (46%). Of the included patients, 36 (55.4%) were male and 29 (44.6%) were female. Presentation was bilateral in 39 (60%) and unilateral in 26 (40%). Anterior uveitis was seen in 19 (29.23%), intermediate in 18 (27.69%), posterior in 16 (24.62%), and panuveitis in 12 (18.46%) patients. There were 2 cases of masquerades. Non-infectious uveitis was the most commonly seen, in 48 (73.84%) of total cases, among which 21 (43.75%) were idiopathic and 7 (14.58%) were associated with juvenile idiopathic (JIA) arthritis. Infectious uveitis was present in 17 (26.15%); the most common etiology was toxoplasmosis. Baseline visual acuity was low in 22 (33.84%) children. After initiating treatment, 37 (56.92%) showed improvement in vision and 10 (15.38%) had worsening of vision. Intraocular pressure (IOP) rise was seen in 5 (7.69%) children; 51 (78.46%) children required medical management and 16 (24.61%) children required surgical intervention; 46 (70.76%) children had uveitis related complications out of which most of them 30 (65.21%) were present at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior and intermediate uveitis were the most common types observed in our study. Toxoplasmosis was the most common type of infectious uveitis and JIA the most common cause in non-infectious type apart from idiopathic uveitis. Posterior uveitis had low visual acuity at baseline and follow-up. Children presented to us with poor visual acuity and complications at baseline, hence an early referral to a tertiary eye hospital and management accordingly can improve the quality of vision and visual rehabilitation.