ABSTRACT
Introduction: The uvea plays an important role in ocularimmunological defense mechanism. Immunologicallyspeaking, the eye has a deviant and privileged position becauseof the blood retina barriers, absence of lymphatic drainageand a special feature called anterior chamber associateddeviation. This special defense mechanism contributed to thepreservation of vision. If these mechanism fail, intraocularinflammation will arise, which may lead to blindness. The aimof this research is to find out the incidence of blindness inpatients with uveitis.Material and methods: In this study, 50 cases of uveitisattending ophthalmic out patients and those who are admittedin department of ophthalmology, Regional Institute of MedicalSciences, Imphal were studied to find out clinical incidence ofblindness. All the patients were subjected to detailed ocularexamination including visual acuity, slit lamp biomicroscopy,direct/indirect ophthalmoscopy and intraocular pressure wasrecorded.Results: Out of 50 patients examined, 20 cases (40%)developed blindness or visual impairment. Bilateral loss ofvision developed in 5 cases (10%) and unilateral loss of visionoccurred in 11 cases (22%).Conclusion: Uveitis was found to be more common in the agegroup of 21 – 30 years with male preponderance. The maincause of visual loss were secondary glaucoma and cataract.Patients with panuveitis had the worst visual prognosis.
ABSTRACT
The corticosteroids are the first-line therapeutical agents for non-infectious uveitis patients, but systemic corticosteroids are ineffective for some chronic or recurrent patients, and have many long term usage-related side effects; these patients may need treatment of immunosuppressive agents and/or biologic agents. However, the mechanism, indication, efficacy and side-effects of each type of the immunosuppressive agents or biologic agents are not identical. In clinical practice, we should use different and sensitive immunosuppressive agents or biologic agents for different types of uveitis, and watch their efficacy and toxic effects closely. In order to improve the effectiveness of the treatment, the classification,efficacy and existing concerns of commonly used uveitis drugs need to be further clarified.