Sarcoidosis-associated Uveitis Research Articles

Methotrexate versus conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in the treatment of non-anterior sarcoidosis-associated uveitis.

To compare the safety and efficacy of methotrexate (MTX), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and azathioprine (AZA) in non-anterior sarcoidosis-associated uveitis. Retrospective study including non-anterior sarcoidosis-associated uveitis according to the revised International Workshop on Ocular Sarcoidosis criteria. The primary outcome was defined as the median time to relapse or occurrence of serious adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation. 58 patients with non-anterior sarcoidosis-associated uveitis (MTX (n=33), MMF (n=16) and AZA (n=9)) were included. The time to treatment failure (ie, primary outcome) after adjustment for corticosteroids dose and the presence of vasculitis was significantly higher with MTX (median time of 34.5 months with MTX (IQR: 11.8 -not reached) vs 8.4 months (3.1-22.9) with MMF and 16.8 months (8.0-90.1) with AZA (p=0.020)). The risk of relapse at 12 months was more than twice lower in MTX as compared with MMF (p=0.046). Low visual acuity at the last visit was significantly lower with MTX (4% vs 9% in MMF vs 57% in AZA group (p=0.008)). Regarding all 75 lines of treatment (MTX (n=39), MMF (n=24) and AZA (n=12)), MTX was more effective than MMF and AZA to obtain treatment response at 3 months (OR 10.85; 95% CI 1.13 to 104.6; p=0.039). Significant corticosteroid-sparing effect at 12 months (p=0.035) was only observed under MTX. Serious adverse events were observed in 6/39 (15%), 5/24 (21%) and 2/12 (17%) with MTX, MMF and AZA, respectively. In non-anterior sarcoidosis-associated uveitis, MTX seems to be more efficient compared with AZA and MMF and with an acceptable safety profile.

Ocular Signs and Testing Most Compatible with Sarcoidosis-Associated Uveitis: A Latent Class Analysis

PurposeThis study aims to explore the potential subgroups of sarcoidosis-associated uveitis (SAU) within a multicenter cohort of uveitis participants. DesignCross-sectional study. ParticipantsA cohort of 826 uveitis patients from a uveitis registry from 19 clinical centers in 12 countries between January 2011 and April 2015. MethodsWe employed a latent class analysis (LCA) incorporating recommended tests and clinical signs from the revised International Workshop on Ocular Sarcoidosis (IWOS) to identify potential SAU subgroups within the multicenter uveitis cohort. Additionally, we assessed the performance of the individual tests and clinical signs in classifying the potential subclasses. Main Outcome MeasuresLatent subtypes of SAU. ResultsAmong 826 participants included in this analysis, the two-class LCA model provided a best fit with the lowest BIC of 7218.7 and an entropy of 0.715. One class, consisting of 548 participants, represented the non-SAU while the second class, comprised of 278 participants, was most representative of SAU. Snowballs/string of pearls vitreous opacities had the best test performance for classification, followed by bilaterality and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy (BHL). The combination of 4 tests with the highest classification importance, including snowballs/string of pearls vitreous opacities, periphlebitis and/or macroaneurysm, bilaterality, and BHL, demonstrated a sensitivity of 84.8% and a specificity of 95.4% in classifying the SAU subtypes. In the exploratory analysis of the 3-class LCA model, which had comparable fit indices as the 2-class model, we identified a candidate non-SAU subtype, candidate SAU subtype with pulmonary involvement, and a candidate SAU with less pulmonary involvement. ConclusionsLatent class modelling, incorporating tests and clinical signs from the revised IWOS criteria, effectively identified a subset of participants with clinical features indicative of SAU. Though the sensitivity of individual ocular signs or tests was not perfect, using a combination of tests provided a satisfactory performance in classifying the SAU subclasses identified by the 2-class LCA model. Notably, the classes identified by the 3-class LCA model, including a non-SAU subtype, an SAU subtype with pulmonary involvement, and an SAU subtype with less pulmonary involvement, may have potential implication for clinical practice and hence should be validated in further research.

Hydroxychloroquine Therapy in Sarcoidosis-Associated Uveitis

ABSTRACT Background/purpose To assess the efficacy and tolerance of hydroxychloroquine in sarcoidosis-associated uveitis Methods Retrospective study on all patients with sarcoidosis-associated uveitis who were treated with hydroxychloroquine between 2003 and 2019 in a French university hospital. Results Twenty-seven patients with sarcoidosis-associated uveitis received hydroxychloroquine. The mean duration of treatment was 20.0 ± 10.9 months. At the end of the follow-up, hydroxychloroquine success was achieved in 15 (55.6%) patients. Four of them were also on oral corticosteroids, with a prednisone dose ≤5 mg/day. Under treatment, the median prednisone dose decreased from 20.0 (interquartile range (IQR), 7–25) to 5.0 (IQR, 3–6.5) mg/day (p = .02). The incidence rate of flare decreased from 204.6 to 63.8 per 100 person-years (p = .02). Hydroxychloroquine was discontinued in 12 (44.4%) patients during follow-up, including 8 (29.6%) for ineffectiveness, and three who experienced side effects. Conclusion Hydroxychloroquine appears as an interesting option in sarcoidosis-associated uveitis. Abbreviations: AZA: Azathioprine; BAL: Bronchoalveolar Lavage; BCVA: Best-Corrected Visual Acuity; ENT: Ears, Nose and Throat; HCQ: Hydroxychloroquine; IOP: Intra-Ocular Pressure; IQR: interquartile range; MHC: Major Histocompatibility Complex; MMF: Mycophenolate Mofetil; MTX: Methotrexate; PMSI: Programme de Médicalisation du Système d’Information; SAU: Sarcoidosis-Associated Uveitis; SD: Standard Deviation; SUN: Standard Uveitis Nomenclature

A multicenter study of ocular inflammation after COVID-19 vaccination.

To report the characteristics of a case series of ocular inflammatory events following COVID-19 vaccination in Japan. Retrospective multicenter study METHODS: In this retrospective multicenter survey, a questionnaire was sent to 16 Japanese hospitals that had uveitis specialty clinics. Information on patients who developed ocular inflammatory events within 14 days of COVID-19 vaccination between February 2021 and December 2021 was collected. Thirty-seven patients were diagnosed with ocular inflammatory events following COVID-19 vaccination. The mean age was 53.4 ± 16.4 years (range, 26-86 years), and the mean time to onset after vaccination was 6.3 ± 4.2 days (range, 1-14 days). Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH) was the most common event (n = 17 patients, 46%), followed by anterior uveitis (n = 6), infectious uveitis (n = 3), acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) (n = 2), sarcoidosis-associated uveitis (n = 1), acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE) (n = 1), optic neuritis (n = 1), multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) (n = 1), Posner-Schlossman syndrome (n = 1), and unclassified uveitis (n = 4). Twenty-eight cases occurred after BNT162b2 vaccination (Pfizer-BioNTech) and 8 after mRNA-1273 vaccination (Moderna), whilst 1 patient had no information about vaccine type. COVID-19 vaccination can be related to various types of ocular inflammatory events. When we encounter patients with ocular inflammatory disease, we should consider that it may be an adverse effect of COVID-19 vaccination.

Classification Criteria for Sarcoidosis-Associated Uveitis

The purpose of this study was to determine classification criteria for sarcoidosis-associated uveitis. Machine learning of cases with sarcoid uveitis and 15 other uveitides. Cases of anterior, intermediate, and panuveitides were collected in an informatics-designed preliminary database, and a final database was constructed including cases achieving supermajority agreement on the diagnosis, using formal consensus techniques. Cases were analyzed by anatomic class, and each class was split into a training set and a validation set. Machine learning using multinomial logistic regression was used in the training sets to determine a parsimonious set of criteria that minimized the misclassification rate among the uveitides. The resulting criteria were evaluated in the validation sets. A total of 1,083 cases of anterior uveitides, 589 cases of intermediate uveitides, and 1,012 cases of panuveitides, including 278 cases of sarcoidosis-associated uveitis, were evaluated by machine learning. Key criteria for sarcoidosis-associated uveitis included a compatible uveitic syndrome of any anatomic class and evidence of sarcoidosis, either 1) tissue biopsy results demonstrating non-caseating granulomata or 2) bilateral hilar adenopathy on chest imaging. The overall accuracy of the diagnosis of sarcoidosis-associated uveitis in the validation set was 99.7% (95% confidence interval: 98.8-99.9). The misclassification rates for sarcoidosis-associated uveitis in the training sets were 3.2% in anterior uveitis, 2.6% in intermediate uveitis, and 1.2% in panuveitis; in the validation sets, the misclassification rates were 0% in anterior uveitis, 0% in intermediate uveitis, and 0% in panuveitis. The criteria for sarcoidosis-associated uveitis had a low misclassification rate and appeared to perform sufficiently well for use in clinical and translational research.

Chronic and recurrent non-infectious paediatric-onset uveitis: a French cohort

ObjectiveTo evaluate the demographics, aetiologies, complications, treatments and visual prognoses of chronic and recurrent non-infectious paediatric-onset uveitis in France.MethodsDescriptive, retrospective and bicentric study in patients whose disease started before 17...

Lymphopaenia as a predictor of sarcoidosis in patients with a first episode of uveitis

Background/aimsThe diagnostic properties of conventional diagnostic tests (ACE and chest radiography) for sarcoidosis-associated uveitis are not ideal. The diagnostic value of lymphopaenia for sarcoidosis-associated uveitis is investigated.MethodsA retrospective study of...

Relevance of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein in patients with active uveitis

PurposeTo relate erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) values to different uveitis entisties.MethodsA retrospective study of patients with a first episode of active uveitis visiting the Erasmus University Medical Center, uveitis clinic, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, was performed. Levels of ESR and CRP were determined within 2 weeks and 1 week after onset of uveitis, respectively. Uveitis had to be of unknown origin at that moment. The specific etiologic groups were related to ESR and CRP values.ResultsThe majority of patients with uveitis had ESR and/or CRP values within the normal limits and no association of ESR and/or CRP with the specific cause of uveitis was observed. However, elevation of ESR ≥ 60 mm/h and/or CRP ≥ 60 mg/L was mostly seen in patients with systemic immune-mediated diseases (8/59, 14% of all with immune-mediated diseases) or systemic infectious causes (7/38, 18% of all infectious uveitis). Patients with ocular toxoplasmosis typically exhibited normal ESR and CRP (9/11, 82%) while patients with endogenous endophthalmitis had elevated ESR and/or CRP in 6/7, 86%. Sarcoidosis-associated uveitis showed predominantly elevated ESR (13/24, 54%; range 20–59 mm/h in 11/13, 85%). Human immunodeficiency virus–positive patients had more often elevated ESR values when compared to the remainder of patients (9/11, 82% vs. 64/163, 39%, 18%, P = 0.009). The cause of uveitis was established in 19/20 (95%) of patients with ESR ≥ 60 mm/h and/or CRP ≥ 60 mg/L.ConclusionsThe majority of patients with first attack of uveitis had ESR and CRP within the normal limits. Elevated levels of ESR and CRP reflected systemic involvement and high levels of both values were associated with established uveitis cause.

Distinguishing Uveitis Secondary to Sarcoidosis From Idiopathic Disease

Idiopathic disease is the most frequent diagnosis in a uveitis clinic. The need to distinguish sarcoidosis from idiopathic uveitis is controversial. However, cardiac involvement in sarcoidosis can be life-threatening. To report a series of patients with uveitis and cardiac sarcoidosis to illustrate the importance of categorizing the causes of uveitis. This retrospective observational case series reviewed the medical records of 249 patients with uveitis who were referred to the Casey Eye Institute between July 1, 2008, and February 28, 2017. We describe patients who initially received a diagnosis of idiopathic uveitis but subsequently received a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Clinical data, including ophthalmologic findings, were collected. We summarized the number of patients who initially presented with idiopathic uveitis, the number of patients who recived a classification of idiopathic uveitis after evaluation, the number of patients who underwent chest computed tomography or an electrocardiogram, and the number of patients with ocular sarcoidosis. Of 33 patients with sarcoidosis, 21 (63.6%) were women and the mean (SD) age was 53.5 (13.8) years. Of 249 patients, the referring diagnosis was idiopathic uveitis for 179 (72%). After history, examination, and laboratory testing, 127 (51%) were still considered to have idiopathic disease. Fifty-three of the 179 patients (30%) with idiopathic disease underwent chest computed tomography scanning. A diagnosis of presumed sarcoidosis, usually on the basis of a chest computed tomography scan, was made in 19 patients (36.2%). As 14 patients (5.6%) were previously known to have sarcoidosis, 33 patients (13.3%) were evaluated with definite or presumed ocular sarcoidosis. We obtained electrocardiograms as a screen for cardiac sarcoidosis on 14 (42.4%) of these patients. Nine patients with abnormal electrocardiogram results were referred to cardiologists. Four of the 19 patients (21.1%) who were referred for idiopathic uveitis but subsequently received a diagnosis of presumed sarcoidosis were found to have episodes of ventricular tachycardia that required implantable cardiac defibrillators. Distinguishing ocular sarcoidosis from idiopathic uveitis had potentially life-saving implications for these patients. The present case series shows the potential utility of distinguishing sarcoidosis-associated uveitis from idiopathic uveitis. We suggest that patients older than 40 years with a history of idiopathic uveitis be evaluated with chest computed tomography and an electrocardiogram if sarcoidosis is suggested on ophthalmic examination.

Diagnostic Value of Serum-Soluble Interleukin 2 Receptor Levels vs Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme in Patients With Sarcoidosis-Associated Uveitis

New and improved diagnostic tests for sarcoidosis-associated uveitis are needed because the currently available laboratory diagnostic biomarkers (eg, lysozyme and angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE]) are lacking in high sensitivity and specificity. To compare the value of soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) with ACE as diagnostic biomarkers of sarcoidosis in patients with uveitis. A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted using data collected from 249 consecutive patients with uveitis at the Erasmus University Medical Center uveitis outpatient clinic, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from April 3, 2013, through November 25, 2015. Measurements of sIL-2R and ACE in serum samples and data extraction from patient files were conducted from December 2016 through February 2017, and analysis from April to May 2017. Serum levels of sIL-2R and ACE and chest radiographic findings were assessed. Receiver operating characteristics analysis was used to determine the probability that individual tests correctly identified patients with sarcoidosis. The Youden Index was used to determine the optimal cutoff points for serum sIL-2R and ACE levels to define sarcoidosis in patients with uveitis. Data were analyzed from 249 patients with uveitis who had their serum sIL-2R and ACE levels determined and underwent chest radiography. Mean (SD) age at the time of sampling was 51 (16) years, 161 patients (64.7%) were women, and 191 (76.7%) were white. Although patients with sarcoidosis-associated uveitis had the highest mean (SD) serum sIL-2R (6047 [2533] pg/mL) and ACE (61 [38] U/L) levels, elevated serum sIL-2R levels were also found in patients with HLA-B27–associated (4460 [2465] pg/mL) and varicella-zoster virus–associated (5386 [1778] pg/mL) uveitis. Serum sIL-2R and ACE levels were significantly correlated (Pearson correlation coefficient, 0.205; P = .001, 2-sided), but no association was found between uveitis activity and sIL-2R (Spearman rank correlation coefficient [ρ], 0.070, P = .27) nor uveitis activity and ACE (ρ, −0.071; P = .27). The highest Youden index for sIL-2R alone was 0.45, corresponding to an optimal cutoff of 4000 pg/mL and providing 81% (95% CI, 74%-89%) sensitivity and 64% (95% CI, 56%-72%) specificity alone but combined with chest radiography yielded 92% sensitivity and 58% specificity. Chest radiography combined with sIL-2R at a cutoff of 6000 pg/mL resulted in 77% sensitivity and 73% specificity. Combined chest radiography and serum ACE levels at the standard cutoff of 68 U/L resulted in 70% sensitivity and 79% specificity. This cross-sectional study demonstrates that sIL-2R is a useful marker for diagnosing sarcoidosis in patients with uveitis and has slightly better diagnostic value than ACE.

Ocular Involvement in Sarcoidosis.

AbstractOcular involvement in sarcoidosis occurs in ∼40% and the eye is the presenting organ in roughly 20%. The course of ocular disease does not necessarily parallel that of systemic disease. Uveitis is the most common presentation and shows mainly a chronic course; anterior uveitis is associated with better visual prognosis than posterior localization. Painful bilateral anterior granulomatous uveitis most commonly occurs in black patients at younger age, while painless posterior bilateral involvement with peripheral multifocal choroiditis is commonly seen in elderly white females. Patients with posterior uveitis develop often ocular complications and central nervous system involvement. Vitritis, segmental periphlebitis, choroidal granulomas, and peripheral multifocal chorioretinitis are often seen clinical features. Optic nerve involvement is uncommon, but if present, results often in poor visual outcome. Lacrimal gland and conjunctival involvement are also common and present clinically as dry eyes or remain asymptomatic with good visual prognosis. Sarcoidosis-associated uveitis is mostly managed by local treatment with steroid drops or periocular and intraocular steroid injections or with novel intraocular corticosteroid implants. Patients with sight-threatening disease or optic nerve involvement need systemic therapy. Systemic therapy is based on a step-up regimen where corticosteroids are used in the initial phase of the disease and if long-term treatment is required, steroid-sparing immunomodulatory drugs are implemented such as methotrexate or biological agents. Despite the mainly chronic course, need for long-term treatment, and frequent ocular surgeries in the majority of patients, the visual outcome of sarcoidosis-associated uveitis is fairly good if therapy has started on time.

NOD2 genetic variants and sarcoidosis-associated uveitis

PurposeIdentifying genetic risk factors for developing sarcoidosis-associated uveitis could provide insights into its pathogenesis which is poorly understood.We determine if variants in NOD2 confer an increased risk of developing uveitis in adults with sarcoidosis. MethodsIn this genetic case-control study, 51 total subjects were enrolled: 39 patients diagnosed with sarcoid-related uveitis and 12 patients with systemic sarcoidosis without ocular involvement as controls. Sanger sequencing of the eleven exons of the NOD2 gene was performed on DNA obtained from whole blood. Sanger sequencing data were aligned against the NOD2 NCBI-RefSeq reference sequence to identify novel mutations in uveitis patients. For common variants, allele frequencies in cases versus controls were compared using the chi-square test. ResultsThere were no significant differences in NOD2 common variant allele frequencies between sarcoidosis patients with and without uveitis, and none of the pathogenic NOD2 mutations associated with Blau syndrome were found in this cohort. However, four rare, non-synonymous variants were identified in four patients with ocular sarcoidosis and none of the controls. Variants rs149071116, rs35285618, and 16:g.50745164T > C have never been previously reported to be associated with any disease and may be pathogenic. The fourth variant, rs2066845, is associated with Crohn’s disease and psoriatic arthritis. ConclusionsDespite the phenotypic overlap between sarcoidosis and Blau syndrome, none of the established pathogenic NOD2 variants were present in adults with sarcoidosis. However, four novel, rare, non-synonymous variants were identified in four cases with ocular sarcoidosis. Further investigation is needed to explore the potential clinical significance of these polymorphisms.

Liver Function Testing Is Not Useful in the Diagnosis of Sarcoidosis in Patients Presenting with Uveitis

ABSTRACTPurpose: To elucidate the usefulness of abnormal liver function tests in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis in patients presenting with ocular inflammation.Methods: Retrospective comparison of sample populations of 100 patients each with sarcoidosis-associated uveitis (SAU) and non-sarcoid uveitis controls.Results: Number of abnormal results between SAU and control groups were: (1) raised alkaline phosphatase 6:2; (2) raised alanine aminotransferase 21:19; (3) raised total protein 14:5; (4) hypoalbuminemia 0:7; (5) raised bilirubin 1:2. The only parameters reaching statistical significance were in (3), using any elevated result; and (4), the greater risk being in controls.Conclusions: There is no evidence that abnormal liver function tests are an indicator of sarcoidosis in new patients presenting with uveitis.

Lymphopenia as a predictor of sarcoidosis in patients with uveitis

AimsTo investigate the hypothesis that lymphopenia is an independent predictor of sarcoidosis in new patients presenting with uveitis.Patients and methodsRetrospective case–control study of 112 patients with sarcoidosis-associated uveitis (SAU) against...

Hearing loss, uveomeningitis, and stroke in a 55‐year‐old man

Hearing loss, uveomeningitis, and stroke in a 55‐year‐old man

Mycophenolate Mofetil Therapy for Sarcoidosis-Associated Uveitis

Purpose: To evaluate the control of ocular inflammation and the steroid sparing effect in patients with sarcoidosis-associated uveitis treated with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Methods: Retrospective case series. All patients with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis-associated uveitis that were treated with MMF between 2005 and 2007 were identified. The dose and duration of MMF therapy and side effects were recorded. Results: Seven patients (14 eyes) with sarcoidosis-associated uveitis were treated with MMF. The mean duration of treatment was 10 ± 4.7 months and the average time to control uveitis was 6.7 weeks. The flare-up rate was 51.5 per 100 person-years follow-up. The best-corrected mean logMAR VA revealed improvement in all 14 eyes. The efficacy of MMF in keeping disease activity under control was maintained in 6 patients. Conclusion: These data suggest that MMF is effective in controlling sarcoidosis-related ocular inflammation, has a corticosteroid sparing effect and a manageable side-effect profile.

Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography for the Diagnosis of Sarcoidosis in Patients with Unexplained Chronic Uveitis

Purpose: To assess the value of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) in patients with unexplained chronic uveitis. Methods: Retrospective review of 19 18F-FDG PET scans. All patients had normal chest CT. In the final analysis, the authors used criteria similar to the criteria of Abad et al. (Abad S, Meyssonier V, Allali J, et al. Association of peripheral multifocal choroiditis with sarcoidosis: a study of thirty-seven patients. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;51:974–982) for the diagnosis of sarcoidosis-associated uveitis. Results: Ten (53%) whole-body scans were consistent with sarcoidosis. At the end, subsequent mediastinal biopsies proved sarcoidosis in 3 patients; 2 patients were considered as presumed sarcoidosis, and 6 indeterminate sarcoidosis. Conclusion: 18F-FDG PET may show focal uptake suggestive of sarcoidosis in patients with unexplained uveitis.

Correction: Successful Treatment of Refractory Sarcoidosis-Associated Uveitis with Infliximab

Correction: Successful Treatment of Refractory Sarcoidosis-Associated Uveitis with Infliximab

Chest computed tomography and mediastinoscopy in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis-associated uveitis

Purpose: To report the usefulness of chest computed tomography and mediastinoscopy in diagnosing sarcoidosis in elderly patients with uveitis. Methods: Case reports. Two Caucasian women, aged 73 and 70 years, underwent evaluations for uveitis, which included chest computed tomography and mediastinoscopy. Results: A chest computed tomographic scan of each woman disclosed mediastinal lymphadenopathy and warranted mediastinal lymph node biopsy by mediastinoscopy. In both patients, histopathologic and microbiologic studies demonstrated sterile noncaseating granulomas consistent with the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Conclusions: The diagnosis of sarcoid-associated uveitis in the elderly may be facilitated by chest computed tomography, which may be more sensitive than conventional chest roentgenography. Laboratory studies of biopsied mediastinal nodes obtained by mediastinoscopy can confirm the diagnosis.

Cataract Surgery in Patients with Sarcoidosis-associated Uveitis

The authors analyzed the incidence of cataract development and the visual outcome of cataract surgery performed on patients with sarcoidosis-associated uveitis who were treated at the Immunology Service at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary during a 17-year period. The records of 102 patients with sarcoidosis-associated uveitis who were treated with topical and regional corticosteroids, systemic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, systemic steroids, or with systemic immunosuppressive chemotherapy were reviewed. Cataract surgery was performed on those eyes in which cataract developed, resulting in decreased visual acuity of 20/100 or less. The incidence of cataract development and visual results of cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation were analyzed. In this cohort of 102 patients, visually significant cataracts that warranted surgery developed in 10 (16 eyes). In addition, four patients (5 eyes) had a visually significant cataract at the time of first evaluation. A total of 14 patients (21 eyes) underwent cataract surgery. Posterior chamber lens implantation accompanied cataract surgery in 19 (90.5%) of 21 eyes. The average final visual acuity of the 21 eyes after cataract surgery was 20/51, and 61% of the eyes achieved a stable visual acuity of 20/40 or better. The major causes of the decreased visual acuity in patients who had less than 20/40 visual acuity were sequelae of chronic posterior uveitis, cystoid macular edema, epiretinal membrane, and glaucomatous optic nerve damage. Posterior chamber lens implantation and cataract surgery in patients with sarcoidosis-associated uveitis can be well tolerated when absolute control of the inflammation is achieved. Pre-existing retinal pathology and glaucoma as a result of uncontrolled inflammation resulting in permanent ocular structural damage were found to be the most important factors for determining the postoperative final visual acuity.