Ocular Inflammation and Choroidal Thickness after Pars Plana Vitrectomy in Chronic Recurrent Stage of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To evaluate subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT) changes and ocular inflammation after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease.

Methods: We analyzed best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), ocular inflammation, complications, and SCT in 17 eyes of 14 patients with VKH disease who underwent PPV and had ≥12-month follow-up. Main surgical indications included vitreous opacity, epiretinal membrane, and macular hole.

Results: Mean BCVA showed significant improvement at all time-points after PPV. Mean SCT significantly increased up until 3 months after PPV (P = .001), but returned to baseline at 12 months and was lower than baseline at the final visit (P = .025). Mean acute uveitis relapse rate decreased after PPV (P = .008). SCT increase was greater in the nine eyes with postoperative uveitis recurrence than in those without (P = .043).

Conclusion: Vision improved after PPV in patients with VKH disease. SCT increase in the early postoperative period was associated with uveitis recurrence during follow-up, suggesting that vitrectomy may induce choroiditis after PPV in VKH.

Keywords:

• Choroidal thickness
• inflammation
• uveitis
• vitrectomy
• Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The authors report no conflict of interest.

DATA AVAILABILITY

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

No financial disclosure for any author