Incidence of uveitis in Northern Finland

The incidence of uveitis was studied among the 613 423 inhabitants of northern Finland in the year 1969. 120 new cases of uveitis were found with a total incidence rate of 19.6 per 100 000 population. The incidence was high in the age groups 20-59 years but low in the young and in older patients. The onset of uveitis was independent of seasonal changes and the occupation of the patients. The aetiology of uveitis remained undetermined in 81% of cases. Of the 120 patients 105 had anterior, 10 posterior and 5 generalized uveitis. The high incidence of anterior uveitis was in accordance wit the high frequency of the histocompatibility antigen B27 among Finns.