Changing patterns of uveitis.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 600 patients with uveitis seen at the Estelle Doheny Eye Center to determine the frequency of occurrence of the various forms of uveitis and to see if the causes of uveitis have changed as compared with previous studies. In 402 cases (67.0%) we established a specific diagnosis based on history, physical findings, and laboratory studies: 167 cases (27.8%) involved primarily the anterior segment, 230 (38.4%) the posterior segment, and 111 (18.4%) occurred as panuveitis. Intermediate uveitis (pars planitis) was the single most frequently diagnosed uveitic entity and accounted for 92 cases (15.4%). We compared our findings with those of previously published studies and found that, as new diseases occur and improved diagnostic techniques become available, the differential diagnosis of uveitis continues to change.