2M.D., Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Izmir/TURKEY
3M.D. Professor, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Izmir/TURKEY Purpose: To determine the prevalence of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and to investigate the effect of clinical signs on its prognosis in patients with presumed herpetic anterior uveitis.
Materials and Methods: The medical records of patients diagnosed as herpetic anterior uveitis were reviewed. Patients were divided into 3 groups, as having normal IOP during the course (Group 1), ocular hypertension (OHT) (Group 2) and secondary glaucoma (Group 3). Relationship between clinical signs and outcomes were investigated.
Results: Sixty-six eyes of 66 patients (32 female, 34 male) were included in the study. The mean age was 49.2±18.9 (10-80) years, the mean follow-up time was 20.7±23.2 (3-108) months. During follow-up elevated IOP was noted in 41 eyes (62.1%). Fourteen of them (34.1%) were evaluated as having glaucomatous defect. IOP was regulated with medical treatment in 7 eyes (50%), however other 7 eyes required surgical intervention. There was no difference in between groups, regarding anterior segment reaction severity, number of attacks and recurrence rates (p=0.332, p=0.098, p=0.457; Mann Whitney U test). Presence of granulomatous KPs was more prevalent in Group 2 and corneal vascularization was higher in Group 3, significantly (p=0.041, p:0.003; chi-square test).
Conclusion: Elevated IOP is considerably common (%62.1) in patients with herpetic anterior uveitis; however only quite a few of them (17.1%) requires surgery. Presence of granulomatous KPs was related with increased prevalence of OHT. As an indicator of disease severity and chronicity, corneal vascularization was related with increased glaucoma risk.
Keywords : Herpetic uveitis, keratitis, intraocular pressure, ocular hypertension, glaucoma