Surgical treatment of uveitis

The results obtained by pars plana vitrectomy in 24 eyes with chronic uveit is, including endogenous intermediate and other types of uveitis, were retr ospectively analyzed. Vitrectomy and lensectomy were performed in 8, and vi trectomy alone in 16 eyes, The mean follow-up period was 50 months, and mea n patient age 38 years. There were 15 (71.4%) male and 6 (28.6%) female pat ients. Improvement of visual acuity was achieved in 79% (19), and visual ac uity of greater than or equal to0.1 in 58% of eyes. Visual acuity of <0.2, recorded in 14 eyes, was due to optic disc atrophy in 4, cystoid macular ed ema in 3, macular pucker in 2, vascular obliteration in 2, and chorioretina l scars in 3 eyes. Postoperative complications included cataract in 4, vitr eous hemorrhage in 2, glaucoma in 1, and retinal detachment in 3 eyes. Vitr ectomy considerably reduced the severity of inflammatory reaction, and allo wed reduction or discontinuation of local and systemic steroid therapy.