Pattern of Uveitis in a Tertiary Care Eye Hospital Setting in Pakistan: A Comprehensive Analysis

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Immunology
• Public Health

Background:

• Uveitis, a significant cause of vision loss, presents diverse patterns globally.
• Understanding regional variations in uveitis aetiology and demographics is crucial for targeted healthcare strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the epidemiological patterns and etiological characteristics of uveitis patients at a tertiary eye care center in Karachi, Pakistan.
• To identify the most prevalent types and causes of uveitis in the studied population.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Uveitis Department of LRBT Tertiary Teaching Eye Hospital, Karachi.
• Data from 5791 patients (August 2020-July 2023) included demographics, clinical examination, and investigations.
• Exclusion criteria involved post-open-globe-trauma endophthalmitis; analysis focused on uveitis patterns and associations.

Main Results:

• The study included 5791 patients, predominantly female (55.4%), with a mean age of 38.22 years.
• Anterior uveitis (35.1%) and pan-uveitis (28.9%) were most common; non-infectious uveitis (72.14%) predominated, with idiopathic uveitis as the leading cause (33.2%).
• Significant associations were observed between uveitis location and factors like age, gender, bilateral involvement, and infectious status.

Conclusions:

• Idiopathic uveitis is the predominant aetiology in the studied Pakistani population.
• Findings underscore the importance of recognizing regional variations in uveitis presentation and causes.
• Limitations include potential biases due to diagnostic modality availability and financial constraints.