The monthly variation in acute anterior uveitis in a community-based ophthalmology practice

Abstract

Background: A significant increase in the number of episodes of acute anterior uveitis was found in December for two consecutive years at a community-based ophthalmology practice. Purpose: To evaluate the monthly variation in episodes of acute anterior uveitis (AAU). Methods: The charts of all patients with AAU in a practice within a community-based multispecialty ophthalmology group in Albuquerque, New Mexico, were reviewed. Seventy-seven patients with acute, self limited, nontraumatic, unilateral, nongranulomatous anterior uveitis over a two-year period were identified. Results: Ninetyfour episodes of AAU occurred in 77 patients (42 men, 35 women).The median number of episodes of AAU was three episodes per month (range: 0–14 episodes/month). An increased number of episodes was found in December of both years (11 in December 1996 [p < 0.01] and 14 in December 1997 [p < 0.003]). Smaller clusters of AAU were seen in other months, but did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: The presence of a seasonal variation in the number of episodes of AAU suggests that environmental factors are important. A search for such factors that increase the risk of AAU during selected periods may be useful for a better understanding of disease pathogenesis.