Acute anterior uveitis

A study by New Zealand researchers found close to half of patients with acute anterior uveitis (AAU) will develop recurrence in the same eye, while a quarter will develop uveitis in the other eye.

Using the Auckland Inflammatory Eye Disease database, researchers at Greenlane Clinical Centre and the University of Auckland studied 2,092 patients (2,763 eyes) with anterior uveitis. Among the non-infectious causes of AAU, human leukocyte antigen B27 allele (HLA B27)-related disease (38.3%) and idiopathic (37.7% of the study population) were the most frequent, with herpes zoster (7.4%) the most commonly identified cause of infectious AAU, reported the research team in Ophthalmology.

Although visual outcomes for acute anterior uveitis are generally favourable, the impact of recurrent episodes on patients and healthcare providers is significant, they said. “Our study demonstrates the high likelihood of recurrence among patients with anterior uveitis with approximately half developing recurrence during follow up.” Viral uveitis had frequent ipsilateral recurrences, but contralateral recurrences were rare, they added.

Robust epidemiological information is lacking in the literature regarding the likelihood of, and risk factors for, recurrence of AAU, which can lead to frustration for patients who would benefit from a clearer understanding of their disease course, said researchers. “I’ve found this research really helpful for discussing with patients,” said co-author Dr Rachael Niederer.