Abstract:Introduction: Intermediate uveitis is a form of uveitis where the primary site of inflammation is the vitreous body. It’s an important subtype of uveitis that requires specific attention due to its potential complications and association with systemic diseases. Patients with intermediate uveitis (IU) represent a heterogenous group characterized by a wide spectrum of etiologies and regional differences. Aim of the study was to analyze the characteristics of patients with IU examined in an academic center in Kashmir.
Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted to find out the clinical presentation and etiological factors of intermediate uveitis in Kashmiri population. In this study 140 eyes of 120 patients were enrolled. The diagnosis followed the Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature criteria. Data analysis included personal data, etiology of IU, presentation, treatment, complications and visual acuity.
Results: In this study 83 (59%) patients were with chronic presentation and 57 (41%) with acute presentation. Vitritis was the most common presentation site in this study 132 (94%). 71 (59%) were tuberclosis IU, 19 (16%) with sarcoidosis, 16 (13%) with multiple sclerosis, and idiopathic IU in 14 (12%) patients. 31 (26%) patients required no systemic or parabulbar treatment. 79 (66%) received systemic steroids, 13 (11%) intravitreal steroids and 10 (8%) parabulbar steroids. Systemic immunosuppression was necessary in 20 (17%) patients. At the end of follow-up, 78% of the eyes had a best corrected visual acuity better than 20/25. Common complications seen were the development of cystoid macular edema (CME) in 49 (35%) eyes, cataract in 31 (22%), 27 (19%) from epiretinal membrane, 9 (6%) from retinal detachment, and 11 (8%) from glaucoma.
Conclusion: Intermediate Uveitis (IU) is a challenging condition requiring a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and management. Early detection and appropriate treatment are key to preserving vision and improving patient outcomes.
