IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS)

e-ISSN: 2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861.Volume 13, Issue 3 Ver. III. (Mar. 2014), PP 55-59
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A Clinical Study of Anterior Uveitis in a Rural Hospital

Dr.Anitha.S.Maiya1, Dr.Sundip Shenoy2
1,2

(Department of Ophthalmology/Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences/RGUHS/India)

Abstract: Background: Uveitis is a complex intraocular inflammatory disease that results from several
aetiological entities. Anterior uveitis is the most common form of uveitis and is commonly seen in young adults.
This study was undertaken to evaluate the modes of presentation, aetiology and complications of anterior uveitis
among the rural population. Methods: a prospective clinical study was conducted in the Department of
Ophthalmology, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, B.G.Nagara. All patients aged between 20-80
years who presented with anterior uveitis were studied. A comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation followed by
relevant laboratory investigations were done to determine the aetiology. Patients were put on nonspecific and
appropriate specific treatment and followed up. Response to treatment and any complications developing during
the course were noted. Results: Anterior uveitis occurred most commonly in the 30-40 years age group(35%).
Majority of the cases had nongranulomatous inflammation(95%) and aetiology remained unknown in 40% of
the cases. Most common cause was blunt trauma(20%) followed by phacolytic uveitis (15%). Most cases
responded favourably to medical management. Conclusions: In a majority of the cases, the aetiology of
anterior uveitis remains undetermined. A tailored battery of investigations based on age, history and clinical
findings are needed to facilitate a final diagnosis. Prompt and early treatment ensures good visual outcome.
Regular follow up is needed for early detection of ocular and systemic complications that may occur secondary
to the cause of uveitis or its treatment.
Keywords: anterior uveitis, blunt trauma, nongranulomatous inflammation, phacolytic uveitis.

I.

Introduction

Uveitis is an inflammatory condition of the uveal tract and adjacent structures that affects mainly
children and young adults. It includes a large group of intraocular inflammatory diseases of diverse etiology. On
several occasions, it reflects diseases developing elsewhere in the body and uveitis may be the first evidence of
such systemic disease[1]. It has been quoted that uveitis accounts for 0.8% of hospital outpatient visits [2].
Anterior uveitis is the most common form of uveitis (accounts for 57.4% of uveitic entities). The
annual incidence of anterior uveitis is about 8 cases per 1,00,000 population [3].
The precise cause of anterior uveitis is often obscure and the correct diagnosis is often challenging. The
cause of inflammation may be infectious agents (exogenous or endogenous) or trauma, but in most cases the
underlying mechanism appears to be autoimmune in nature [4].
As per the recommendations of the International Uveitis Study Group(IUSG), anterior uveitis is
categorised into iritis (inflammation of the iris), anterior cyclitis( inflammation of the anterior portion of ciliary
body) and iridocyclitis (inflammation of iris and ciliary body). Patients with anterior uveitis present with redness
of the eyes, photophobia, watering of eyes and blurred vision.[5]
Anterior uveitis causes vision loss both directly due to inflammation and via complication such as
secondary glaucoma, cataract, macular edema, retinal detachment and others. The treatment of uveitis itself can
result in ocular and systemic complications [6,7,8].
Anterior uveitis can generally be managed by medical therapy and surgical interventions are only
needed if structural complications like cataract supervene. Since the aetiology of uveitis is usually unknown or
no specific treatment is available in many cases despite definitive diagnosis, non specific measures are
employed. This includes, Corticosteroids (ocular, periocular and/or systemic), topical cycloplegic drugs, Non
Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and immunosuppressive drugs[9,10,11,12].
Although anterior uveitis is the most easily managed form of uveitis, the ocular morbidity associated
with it is moderately high.
This study was undertaken to evaluate the modes of presentation, aetiology and complications of
anterior uveitis among the rural population.

II.

Materials And Methods

A prospective clinical study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, Adichunchanagiri

Institute of Medical Sciences, B.G.Nagara after obtaining clearance from the Institutional Ethics Committee.
Consecutive patients aged between 20 to 80 years who were clinically diagnosed to have anterior uveitis were
included in the study after obtaining an informed consent.
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A Clinical Study Of Anterior Uveitis In A Rural Hospital

Anterior uveitis following penetrating ocular injuries, corneal ulcer, recent intraocular surgeries and
those associated with intermediate, posterior or panuveitis were excluded from the study.
A standard clinical proforma was used in all cases, which included detailed ocular and systemic
history, visual acuity assessment using Snellens chart, clinical findings, laboratory investigations and the final
aetiological diagnosis. All patients underwent a comprehensive ocular examination which included visual acuity
assessment, detailed slit lamp examination, IOP measurement (by Goldmann Applanation Tonometer) and
posterior segment examination.
The inflammation was considered acute if symptoms were present for less than 3 months, chronic if
symptoms were present for more than 3 months and recurrent if the patient had two or more episodes of
inflammation separated by a disease free period.
A short differential diagnosis was made in each case and tailored laboratory investigations were
carried out. Investigations including total and differential WBC counts, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate,blood
sugar levels, urine and stool examination, Mantoux test and serological tests for Toxoplasmosis, Syphilis, HIV,
Rheumatoid factor were done in all cases. X-ray of chest, knee and lumbosacral joints were done. Other
investigations like HLA-B27, ANA and Angiotensin-converting enzyme levels were done whenever necessary.
Final aetiological diagnosis was made based on history, clinical features, laboratory investigations and
systemic evaluation by other medical specialities.
All patients were treated medically wtih topical steroids (Prednisolone acetate 1% or Fluorometholone)
and topical cycloplegics (Atropine eye ointment or Homatropine eye drops). the frequency of steroids was
titrated according to the severity of uveitis and gradually tapered according to the clinical response.
Specific therapy (eg. Systemic antivirals) were given whenever aetiology was known. Systemic and/or
periocular steroids were reserved for severe cases and those not adequately responding to topical therapy.
Patients with lens induced inflammation underwent cataract surgery after inflammation was reasonably
controlled medically. Patients with secondary glaucoma were treated medically with T.Acetazolamide 250mg
TID for3-5 days and Timolol 0.5% eye drops BID.
All the patients were followed up and response to treatment and complications were recorded.

III.

Results

A total of 20 patients with anterior uveitis aged between 20-80 years were studied and the following
observations were made:
Table 1. Age wise distribution of cases
Age (years)
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
71-80

Number of patients
1
7
1
4
5
2

Percentage
5
35
5
20
25
10

Table 2. Gender distribution, presenting symptoms, type of onset, laterality and type of inflammation.
Number of cases
Sex wise distribution of cases
Male
12
Female
8
Common presenting symptoms of anterior uveitis
Redness of eyes
16
Pain
16
Watering
9
Dimunition of vision
10
Clinical presentation
Acute
16
Chronic
3
Recurrent
1
Laterality of Anterior uveitis
Unilateral
19
Bilateral
1

Percentage
60
40
80
80
45
50
80
15
5
95
5

In this study, 16 patients (80%) had nongranulomatous inflammation and 4 patients (20%) had
granulomatous inflammation. Of the 4 cases of granulomatous uveitis, 2 were due to Herpes zoster
ophthalmicus and 2 were detected to be secondary to tuberculosis.

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A Clinical Study Of Anterior Uveitis In A Rural Hospital

Table 3. Aetiological distribution of cases.
Aetiology
Idiopathic
Blunt trauma
Phacolytic
Herpes zoster ophthalmicus
Tuberculosis
Iridocyclitis associated with arthritis

Number of cases
8
4
3
2
2
1

Percentage
40
20
15
10
10
5

In the present study, all the 20 patients were treated with topical steroids and cycloplegics. Two
patients required systemic steroids(both patients had phacolytic uveitis and had severe postoperative
inflammation). The two patients of Herpes zoster were treated with oral Acyclovir for 10 days. The two patients
with secondary glaucoma responded to topical antiglaucoma medications and did not need any surgical
intervention. The three cases of phacolytic uveitis underwent small incision cataract surgery with implantation
of posterior chamber intraocular lens.

Fig1. Small to medium sized keratic precipitates on the corneal endothelium in non granulomatous anterior
uveitis.

Fig 2. Large mutton fat keratic precipitates in granulomatous anterior uveitis.

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A Clinical Study Of Anterior Uveitis In A Rural Hospital

Fig 3. Persistent posterior synechiae

Fig 4. Phacolytic uveitis.

IV.

Discussion

The present study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, Adichunchanagiri Institute of
Medical Sciences, B.G.Nagara and 20 cases of anterior uveitis were studied.
The incidence was high in the 31-40 years age group (35%) followed by the 61-70 years age group
(25%). It was observed that males were affected more (60%) as compared to females (40%). In the study by
Rathinam SR, 61.3% were males and 38.7% were females[2]. In the study by Alezandro Rodriguez et al,
gender distribution was 38.9% males and 61.1% females[13]. The most common symptoms with which the
patients presented were redness of eye and pain (80% of patients).
The most common presentation was acute iridocyclitis (80% of patients) followed by chronic (in 15%
of patients. Recurrent anterior uveitis was seen in only one patient who was detected to be positive for HLAB27 antigen and is presently on immunosuppressant drugs. In the study by Rathinam SR et al, 71.9% of cases
had acute anterior uveitis, 24.3% were chronic and 3.8% were recurrent anterior uveitis [2]. Majority of the
patients had unilateral anterior uveitis (95% of patients) without significant predeliction for either right eye or
left eye. This corresponds with the study by Rathinam SR et al in which majority (85.3%) had unilateral anterior
uveitis. Majority of the cases had nongranulomatous inflammation which corresponds with two other previous
studies[2,13].
Table 4. Comparison of aetiological factors of present study with other studies.
Aetiology
Idiopathic
Blunt trauma
Phacolytic
HZO
Tuberculosis
Iridocyclitis
a/w arthritis

Present study(%) [n=20]

40
20
15
15
10
5

Rathinam SR[2](%)
[n=5028]
44.6
7.7
3.5
8.6
4
7.1

Singh et al[14](%)
[n=607]
61.3
1.8
7.9
-

Henderly et al[15](%)
[n=167]
43.52
2.52
8.99
-

In the present study, majority of the cases were idiopathic in nature which corresponds with the other
studies. Blunt trauma was the most common cause of anterior uveitis followed by phacolytic uveitis. This may
be explained by the fact that the rural agricultural population have a greater predeliction to trauma.
Visual acuity at presentation was less than 6/12 in about 50 % of patients which improved after treatment to
>6/9 in 80% of these cases. Visual acuity improved only marginally in the patient who had macular edema
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A Clinical Study Of Anterior Uveitis In A Rural Hospital

All the patients were treated medically and responded favourably to treatment. only 3 patients required surgical
intervention in the form of cataract surgery. A few patients were lost to follow up. The average follow up period
was about 2 months.

V.

Conclusions

Anterior uveitis is a progressive disease with potentially blinding complications and sequelae. The
aetiology is varied and remains unknown in majority of the cases. In all cases of anterior uveitis, posterior
uveitis should be ruled out by a thorough posterior segment evaluation. A detailed systemic evaluation in these
cases is important, since anterior uveitis maybe an early manifestation of an underlying systemic disease.
Ordering a standard battery of laboratory investigations leads to delay in diagnosis and excessive
expenditure . Some of the investigations may not be affordable or available to the rural population. A more
acceptable method would be to consider factors like age, sex, history, clinical findings and then ordering for
appropriate tailored laboratory investigations.
Early diagnosis and prompt appropriate treatment results in good visual outcome. Chronicity and delay
in therapy increases the risk of vision threatening complications.

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