Posters

Five years prevalence and risk factors for cataract development in eyes with uveitis secondary to ankylosing spondylitis

Poster Details

First Author: M. Yakin TURKEY

Co Author(s): G. Sungur   O. Balta   G. Orman   F. Ornek           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate 5-years prevalence of cataract development in patients with uveitis secondary to ankylosing spondylitis.

Setting:

Uvea-Behcet Clinic of Ankara Training and Research Hospital.

Methods:

The charts of the patients who admitted to the Uvea-Behcet Clinic from June 1990 to June 2016 for uveitis secondary to ankylosing spondylitis were reviewed retrospectively. Each patient underwent complete ophthalmologic examination. Cataract was defined as having any type of lens opacities. During this time period, 169 eyes of 116 patients (79 male, 36 female) were treated for uveitis secondary to ankylosing spondylitis. From these patients, 66 eyes of 37 patients (25 male and 12 female) were reached 5-years follow-up.

Results:

Mean age at the first uveitis attack was 34.88 ± 8.47 years. Cataract formation was detected in 8 eyes (12.1%). The differences between eyes with and without cataract were as follows: Mean number of uveitis flares was 2.00±0.76 vs. 2.33±1.99 (p=0.61). Mean number of posterior subtenon triamcinolone injections was 0.87±0.64 vs. 0.40±0.79 (p=0.015). Mean number of oral steroid use was 0.75 ± 0.71 vs. 0.43 ± 0.65 (p=0.152). Twelve eyes (18.2%) were under systemic immunosuppressive treatment. No significant difference in cataract frequency was found between eyes with and without immunosuppressive treatment (p=0.66). No difference was found according to gender (p=0.70).

Conclusions:

No significant difference was found in the number of uveitis flares in eyes with and without cataract, even the eyes without cataract had uveitis flares more frequently. Although posterior subtenon triamcinolone injection is an effective method of controlling inflammation, reaches high intravitreal levels than topical steroid use, and safer than intravitreal injections, it is significantly associated with early cataract formation. No similar findings were found in systemic steroid or immunosuppressive use. Steroids other than posterior subtenon triamcinolone or steroid-sparing agents can be preferred in uveitis flares to prevent early cataract formation in eyes with uveitis.

Financial Disclosure:

None