Macular involvement in patients with Behçet's uveitis.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Rheumatology
• Immunology

Background:

• Behçet's disease is a multisystem inflammatory disorder.
• Ocular involvement, particularly uveitis, is a common and serious manifestation.
• Macular involvement significantly impacts visual prognosis in Behçet's uveitis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence and spectrum of macular involvement in patients diagnosed with Behçet's uveitis.
• To characterize the types of macular complications and their evolution over time.
• To assess the impact of macular involvement on visual acuity.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 65 patients (120 eyes) with Behçet's uveitis was studied.
• Comprehensive ophthalmic examinations included fundus examination, photography, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography.
• Patient follow-up ranged from 6 to 46 months (mean 20 months).

Main Results:

• Initial macular involvement was observed in 24.1% of eyes, with macular edema being the most common (13.3%).
• During follow-up, 18.3% of eyes developed new or worsening macular complications.
• Final visual acuity in affected eyes ranged widely, with a mean of 20/80.

Conclusions:

• Macular edema and other vision-threatening macular complications are prevalent in Behçet's uveitis.
• Macular damage can be irreversible, leading to permanent visual impairment.
• Timely and effective treatment is crucial to prevent vision loss from macular complications.