THE PREVALENCE OF ELEVATE INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE IN PATIENTS WITH UVEITIS

Background: Uveitis is a significant cause of ocular morbidity, often complicated by ocular hypertension (OHT) and secondary glaucoma. The relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation and intraocular inflammation is complex, influenced by disease chronicity, type of uveitis, and corticosteroid use. Identifying the prevalence and risk factors of OHT in uveitic patients is essential for early detection and management. Aim: To determine the prevalence of increased IOP among patients with uveitis and to identify the etiologies and clinical characteristics associated with OHT. Patients and Methods: This prospective case series was conducted at Ibn Al-Haitham Eye Teaching Hospital from August 2015 to June 2016. Seventy patients (131 eyes) with uveitis were included. Patients with exogenous uveitis, masquerade syndromes, lens-induced uveitis, or pre-existing primary glaucoma were excluded. All patients underwent complete ophthalmological examinations, including IOP measurement by applanation or air-puff tonometry, gonioscopy, and optic nerve evaluation. OHT was defined as IOP >21 mmHg on more than one occasion. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 with chi-square and paired t-tests. Results: OHT was observed in 45 out of 131 eyes (34%). Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease was the most frequent cause, accounting for 22 of 40 eyes (55%). Other associations included juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (41.7%), Behçet’s disease (30%), presumed tuberculous uveitis (25.8%), and pars planitis (17.8%). Female patients showed a slightly higher prevalence (45%) compared with males (33.3%). Ten eyes (22.2%) required surgical intervention when medical therapy failed. Conclusion: OHT is a common complication of uveitis, particularly in VKH, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and Behçet’s disease. Early diagnosis and close monitoring are crucial to prevent progression to secondary glaucoma and irreversible vision loss.