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Massachusetts Eye and Ear
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Ophthalmology Outcomes

Ocular Immunology and Uveitis

Treatment for uveitis and other ocular inflammatory conditions requires a multidisciplinary approach that involves internal medicine and ophthalmology. At the Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Service, patients are treated with a range of therapies, including eye drops, prescription NSAIDs, and systemic immunosuppressive medications.

Learn more about ocular immunology and uveitis treatment

Median Post-Treatment Vision for Acute Anterior Uveitis

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During calendar year 2022, 466 patients presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with anterior uveitis, which was defined as a diagnosis of acute uveitis or uveitis with unspecified timing of onset. Of these 466 patients, 50 were determined to have acute anterior uveitis with a follow-up within one month of their ED visit at the Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Service. In general, patients with uveitis with perceived higher acuity in the ED are referred to the Uveitis Service; other patients with uveitis are followed by the Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service.

The nationally established IRIS measure for acute anterior uveitis (IRIS51) by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (updated January 2021) defines treatment success as achievement of best-corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better or back to baseline within 90 days of treatment. The majority of patients who presented to our ED were new, and as such, did not have a baseline vision. Therefore, visual acuity was recorded for those 50 patients at presentation to the ED and compared to their visual acuity at their post-treatment follow-up visit closest to three months. A total of 60 eyes of 50 patients were included in the analysis. The median pre-treatment vision (vision at presentation) was 20/25 and the median post-treatment vision was 20/25. Of the 50 patients, 38 (76%) had a visual acuity of 20/25 or better at their three-month follow-up visit.