Patterns of Uveitis among Nepalese population Presenting at a Tertiary Referral Eye Care Centre in Nepal

Purpose: To report the epidemiological profile, clinical pattern, and etiology of uveitis among large population of uveitis cases at a tertiary level eye care center of Nepal.Methods: A retro-prospective study was performed among the patients visiting the uveitis clinic of BP Koirala Lions Centre for Ophthalmic Studies from 2012-2017.Retrospective data was collected for June 2012 and June 2013 and prospective data were collected for July 2013-July 2017.Results: During the period of 2012-2017, a total of 5,34,292 patients were examined at BP Koirala Lions Centre for Ophthalmic Studies out of which, 4359 patients were diagnosed as uveitis patients making a prevalence rate of 0.82%.The incidence rate was at 0.14% (~477 new cases every year).Out of them, 2342 (53.73%) were female and 2017 (46.27%) were male.The mean age of presentation was 37.91 ± 17.2 years with age range of 38 days to 84 years.Unilateral presentation (2905, 66.64%) was common than bilateral (1454, 33.36%).According to anatomical types, anterior uveitis was the most common (2694, 61.8%) followed by intermediate uveitis (665, 15.26%), posterior uveitis (454, 10.42%) and panuveitis (546,12.53%).A specific diagnosis was established in 1602 (36.75%) patients.The three most common infectious diseases were herpetic anterior uveitis (608, 13.95%), toxoplasmosis (272, 6.24%) and tuberculosis (101, 2.32%) whereas metabolic disorder (177, 4.06%), rheumatoid arthritis related uveitis (62, 1.42%) and sarcoidosis (53, 1.22%) were common systemic diseases identified.Macular edema was the most common complication (863 eyes, 14.85%). Conclusion:Anterior uveitis is the most common form of manifestations.Unilateral presentation is prevalent than bilateral.Uveitis is mainly common among Nepalese people of productive age group of either gender.Seasonal Hyperacute panuveitis is the commonest cause of pediatric panuveitis.