Clinical Analysis of Pars Planitis with Prominent Snowbank

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of the intermediate uveitis with prominent snowbank, METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of the patients with intermediate uveitis characterized by the snowbank larger than half a quadrant. RESULTS: Of all 49 patients, 67 eyes, the mean age was 37.3 years. Male patients was 31, and eighteen patients (36.7%) were bilateral. Snowbank was at the inferior in 56 eyes (83.6%), and larger than two quadrant in 16 eyes (23.9%). Mean follow-up was 27 months. Final visual acuity improved in 40 eyes (59.7%), worsened in 4 eyes (6.0%), and more than 0.5 in 51 eyes (76.1%). Complications were cystoid macular edema (23 eyes, 34.3%), retinal detachment (22 eyes, 32.8%), and vitreous hemorrhage (11 eyes, 16.4%). Procedures were barrier laser photocoagulation (45 eyes, 67.2%), pars plana vitrectomy(12 eyes, 17.9%), scleral buckling(2 eyes, 3.0%), cataract surgery (9 eyes, 13.4%), trabeculectomy(6 eyes, 9.6%), and cryopexy (1 eye, 1.5%). Statistically, there was no significant relationship in the final visual acuity and gender, bilaterality, initial visual acuity of 0.5 or above, snowbank larger than two quadrants, and barrier laser photocoagulation. However, pars plana vitrectomy showed a significant relationship (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Intermediate uveitis with prominent snowbank seems to show the similar clinical prognosis to generally-reported intermediate uveitis, and the prognosis of pars plana vitrectomy is good.