[Intermediate uveitis].

Intermediate uveitis is diagnosed in about 10% of the patients seen at the "Uveitis Clinic" of the Second Department of Ophthalmology of Vienna University. Forty-nine patients (with 83 eyes showing signs of the disease) were followed up for between six months and 12 years. Bilateral involvement was seen in 34 patients. The average age of the 27 female patients at the time of diagnosis was 26.2 years, that of the 22 male patients 24.6 years. All the eyes affected showed distinct vitreous opacities; 80% developed exudates overlying the pars plana and 70% showed a mild anterior chamber reaction. Posterior synechiae were found in 10% of the eyes, swelling of the optic disk in 15%, retinal vaso-proliferation in 10%, and dense intravitreal membranes in 6%. Posterior subcapsular cataract, vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment, band keratopathy, and atrophy of the eye were rarely seen. The complication most frequently and severely reducing central visual acuity was cystoid macular edema (30%). Whereas 31 patients did not require any treatment over the course of the observation period, it was found that oral corticosteroid therapy led to a significant improvement in vision in 14 patients (20 eyes) with CME. Only few patients required a combination of corticosteroids and Ciclosporin-A as long-term therapy. Vitrectomy and scleral buckling operations were rarely performed.