Characteristics of uveitis presenting for the first time in the elderly: analysis of 91 patients in a tertiary center.

PURPOSE

To describe uveitis clinical characteristics in the elderly.

METHODS

Retrospective review of 91 patients at the age of 60 or more years at the authors' uveitis tertiary center over a 7-year period.

RESULTS

Uveitis in the elderly accounted for 30.1% of this population. Uveitis localization was anterior in 22.0% of patients, intermediate in 8.8%, posterior in 20.9%, while 41.7% patients presented with panuveitis. Sarcoidosis (37.4%) and idiopathic uveitis (36.3%) accounted for the majority of cases, whereas other diagnostic entities accounted for 26.3%. Panuveitis (41.7%) and sarcoidosis (37.4%) were detected at a significantly higher frequency than in the younger population. Contrarily, ankylosing spondylitis and established ophthalmological entities (pars planitis, Birdshot chorioretinopathy, Fuchs heterochromic cyclitis) were more common in patients younger than 60 years old.

CONCLUSION

In the authors' experience, sarcoidosis is the leading cause of uveitis in the elderly. Idiopathic uveitis and other specific entities account for less than two-thirds of cases.