Pattern of Uveitis at a Tertiary Eye Hospital in Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and Comparison with Local Literature

Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose To explore the patterns of uveitis in a main ophthalmic referral center in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. Methods A retrospective chart review of uveitis cases was conducted in a tertiary eye hospital for five years. In addition, a comprehensive review of Saudi publications about uveitis patterns in the literature. Results Out of 222 patients included, 54.4% were females, with a mean age of 38.5 years. Uveitis was bilateral in 55.7%, non-granulomatous in 55.9%, and infectious in 11.3%. Most of the cases were anterior uveitis (51.1%), followed by panuveitis (26%), intermediate uveitis (12.8%), and posterior uveitis (10%). Apart from idiopathic cases (43.7%), the most common diagnoses were Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (11.3%) and Behcet's disease (7.7%) in adults. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (7.2%) was commonest among children. Posterior synechiae was the leading complication (32.0%), followed by cataracts (22.8%). Conclusions VKH and Behçet disease were the primary non-idiopathic etiologies in Saudi Arabia.