[Incidence of uveitis at Tokyo Medical College Hospital]

We reviewed the records of 980 patients with endogenous uveitis who were followed in the uveitis clinic of the Tokyo Medical College Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology. A group of 693 patients examined within a 5-year period from January, 1989 through December, 1993 (Group A) were compared to an earlier group of 287 patients examined within a 3-year period from January, 1982 through December, 1984 (Group B). The incidence of Behçet's disease, intermediate uveitis, and toxoplasmosis showed an apparent decrease. In contrast, the incidence of sarcoidosis and acute anterior uveitis increased. In comparison to Group B, Group A showed an increased number of patients with virus-associated uveitis, toxocariasis, and uveitis caused by fungal infection. The changes observed in the prevalence of certain uveitic diseases in the patient population we followed may be related to changing environment and/or life style, in addition to various advances in diagnostic testing. In the future, the classification of uveitis will become more varied according to the establishment of new concepts.