Clinical characteristics of uveitis in the elderly

Purpose. Uveitis comprises a complex group of conditions whose onset usually occurs in the young to middle-aged population. The duration of disease is unpredictable and may vary from weeks to many years. We studied elderly patients with uveitis to determine their age at onset and the clinical characteristics of their disease. Methods. A retrospective survey of the case notes of patients ≥ 60 years attending our Uveitis Clinics. Results. 64/430 (14.9%) of patients were aged ≥ 60 years and comprised 40 females and 24 males. The most frequent anatomical type of inflammation was panuveitis (48.4%), followed by chronic anterior uveitis (28.1%), acute anterior uveitis (18.8%) and posterior uveitis (4.7%). Only 20/64 patients ≥ 60 years (4.7% of the total group) had their onset of uveitis prior to 60 years. Irreversible visual loss in at least one eye (acuity < 6/36) occurred in 34.4%, and was more frequent in those patients who presented ≥ 60 years (68.2%), Conclusions. Young to middle-aged uveitis patients are unlikely to continue to suffer with intraocular inflammation after the age of 60 years. Those patients presenting ≥ 60 years are at risk of irreversible visual damage.