Epidemiology of Macular Edema in Uveitis

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To describe the epidemiology of macular edema (ME) in patients with uveitis.

Methods: Review of articles listed on PubMed pertaining to uveitic ME.

Results: Reported rates of uveitic ME ranging from 20% to 70%, depending on the ancillary tests used (fundus examination, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography). Macular edema might develop due to uveitis itself, or occur as an adverse effect of drugs taken for different diseases. It is more frequently observed in adults than in children, in chronic uveitis, and in intermediate uveitis. Males with ankylosing spondylitis are more prone to develop ME than females. Three patterns of uveitic ME are observed, either isolated or in combination: cystoid ME, the most frequently encountered pattern seen in up to 80% of cases, diffuse ME and serous retinal detachment.

Conclusion: Older age, chronicity of uveitis and intermediate uveitis are risk factors for the development of ME in patients with uveitis.

Keywords:

• Epidemiology
• macular edema
• macular edema patterns
• uveitis
• drug toxicity

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

The authors have no financial interest in any of the products mentioned in this manuscript.