Incidence and changing patterns of uveitis in Central Tokyo.

PURPOSE: The patterns of uveitis in Tokyo have recently changed due to advances in examination tools. We aimed to investigate the changes in the patterns of uveitis between 2004-2015 and 2016-2018. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 732 patients who visited the Uveitis Clinic at the University of Tokyo Hospital between January 2016 and December 2018. Background characteristics, laboratory results, and imaging findings were analysed. We compared the incidences of uveitis in 2016-2018 and 2004-2015 to identify changes in the patterns. RESULTS: The most frequent diagnoses were sarcoidosis (8.9%), herpetic iridocyclitis (6.7%), intraocular lymphoma (5.5%), Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (4.8%), unclassified acute anterior uveitis (4.6%), Behçet's disease (4.5%), bacterial endophthalmitis (2.9%), and Posner-Schlossman syndrome (2.6%). Suspected sarcoidosis (20.9%) was the most common cause of unclassified uveitis. The incidence of intraocular lymphoma was significantly higher in 2016-2018 than in 2004-2015. Between 2004 and 2018, herpetic iridocyclitis, bacterial endophthalmitis, and juvenile chronic iridocyclitis exhibited an increasing trend, and the incidences of Posner-Schlossman syndrome, unclassified acute anterior uveitis, Behçet's disease, and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease exhibited a decreasing trend. CONCLUSION: The changing patterns of uveitis were characterised by increases in the incidence of intraocular lymphoma. This may be attributed to recent advances in examination tools, the changes in the referred patient population, and the aging Japanese population.

Clinical features of uveitis in elderly patients in central Tokyo (2013-2018).

PURPOSE: To clarify the clinical features of uveitis in elderly patients in central Tokyo. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 1424 patients with uveitis who visited the Uveitis Clinic of the University of Tokyo Hospital between January 2013 and December 2018. The patients were categorized into two groups based on their ages at the time of disease onset: patients aged 65 years or older were included in Group A, whereas those younger than 65 years were included in Group B. The etiological classification of uveitis and its causes were investigated for each group. RESULTS: Group A presented significantly higher rates of infectious uveitis (35.5% vs. 17.8%, p < 0.0001) and masquerade syndromes (17.9% vs. 5.0%, p < 0.0001) than Group B. Furthermore, Group A had significantly higher rates of sarcoidosis (23.1% vs. 9.3%, p < 0.0001), intraocular lymphoma (16.6% vs. 4.6%, p < 0.0001), cytomegalovirus iritis (11.0% vs. 5.6%, p = 0.0043), and cytomegalovirus retinitis (5.2% vs. 1.5%, p = 0.0020) than Group B. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate a clear difference in the causative diseases of uveitis between elderly and non-elderly patients. These findings may support ophthalmologists in their diagnostic process for elderly patients with uveitis.

Comparison of visual field defect progression in secondary Glaucoma due to anterior uveitis caused by three types of herpes viruses.

PURPOSE: To clarify the prevalence of secondary glaucoma (SG) and its speed of progression in patients with herpes simplex virus (HSV)-anterior uveitis (AU), varicella zoster virus (VZV)-AU, and cytomegalovirus (CMV)-AU. METHODS: In total, 170 patients with herpetic AU were enrolled in this retrospective observational case series. Patients with visual field (VF) defects and glaucomatous disc abnormalities were diagnosed with SG. Moreover, the speed of SG progression was defined as decreasing mean deviation (MD) values per year. SG prevalence and annual MD-value decrease were compared among the three types of herpetic AU. RESULTS: SG prevalence was 16%, 9%, and 72% in patients with HSV-AU, VZV-AU, and CMV-AU, respectively. Patients with CMV-AU had the highest SG prevalence (odds ratio = 3.15; 95% confidence interval = 1.15-8.65; P < 0.05). Furthermore, the annual MD-value change was significantly higher in SG caused by CMV-AU than in that caused by HSV/VZV-AU (-2.6 ± 2.4 dB/year and -0.45 ± 0.54 dB/year, respectively; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that patients with CMV-AU may have a higher risk and faster speed of progression of SG than patients with HSV/VZV-AU. Therefore, clinicians should monitor glaucoma onset and VF-defect progression in patients with CMV-AU.

Ocular inflammation associated with relapsing polychondritis in Japanese patients: a review of 11 patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical features of patients with ocular inflammation associated with relapsing polychondritis in Japan. METHODS: Ocular findings, systemic symptoms, and therapies were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: Nine of 11 patients had scleritis (diffuse scleritis: six patients, posterior scleritis: two patients, episcleritis: one patient) and two patients had anterior uveitis. All cases were bilateral, and ten patients experienced recurrent episodes. Auricular chondritis was the most common systemic symptom. Ten patients were administered systemic steroids, and five patients were administered other immunosuppressive medications for severe systemic symptoms. At their last visit, none of the patients had decreased visual acuity that resulted from relapsing polychondritis-associated ocular inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular inflammation is often bilateral and recurring. Patients with ocular inflammation must be questioned regarding systemic symptoms so that the signs of relapsing polychondritis are not overlooked. Early diagnosis and prompt, appropriate treatment are important because relapsing polychondritis is a potentially lethal disease.

Epidemiology of uveitis (2013-2015) and changes in the patterns of uveitis (2004-2015) in the central Tokyo area: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The distribution of uveitis varies with genetic, ethnic, geographic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Epidemiological information about the patterns of uveitis is useful when an ophthalmologist considers the diagnosis of uveitis. Therefore, it is important to identify the causes of uveitis over the years in different regions. The purposes of this study were to characterize the uveitis patients who first arrived at the University of Tokyo Hospital in 2013-2015, and to analyze the changes in the patterns of uveitis from 2004 to 2012 to 2013-2015. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 750 newly arrived patients with uveitis who visited the Uveitis Clinic in the University of Tokyo Hospital between January 2013 and December 2015, using clinical records. We extracted data on patient age, sex, diagnosis, anatomic location of inflammation, laboratory test results of blood and urine, and chest X-ray and fluorescein fundus angiography findings for each patient. In addition, we compared these data with those from 2004 to 2012 to analyze the changes in the patterns of uveitis. RESULTS: A definite diagnosis was established in 445 patients (59.3%). The most common diagnoses were herpetic iridocyclitis (7.5%), sarcoidosis (6.1%), Behçet's disease (4.4%), Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (4.1%), and intraocular lymphoma (4.1%). The most frequent unclassified type of uveitis was suspected sarcoidosis (22.3%). Analysis of the changes in the patterns of uveitis in the central Tokyo area from 2004 to 2012 to 2013-2015 revealed notable increasing trends of herpetic iridocyclitis and intraocular lymphoma, and increasing trends of bacterial endophthalmitis, fungal endophthalmitis, and juvenile chronic iridocyclitis. In contrast, the frequency of sarcoidosis, Behçet's disease, and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease decreased. CONCLUSIONS: The patterns of uveitis changed considerably from 2004 to 2012 to 2013-2015. Continuous investigations about the epidemiology of uveitis are needed to diagnose uveitis more accurately.

Monoclonal immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement in Fuchs' uveitis.

BACKGROUND: Fuchs' uveitis (FU) is occasionarlly complicated with heavy vitreous opacity. We have performed vitrectomy procedures to remove vitreous opacity in affected patients as part of differential diagnosis for primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL). CASE PRESENTATION: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of five patients who first visited the Uveitis Clinic of the University of Tokyo Hospital between 2009 and 2013, were diagnosed with FU and underwent a vitrectomy for removal of dense vitreous opacity. All were diagnosed as FU by ocular findings and elevation of Goldmann-Witmer coefficient (GWC) value for the rubella virus (RV) antibody. In examinations of the vitreous body, cytological diagnosis, elevation of IL-10/IL-6 ratio, and the kappa/lambda ratio in flow cytometry findings were negative in all cases, whereas monoclonal immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene rearrangement was positive in 4 cases and negative in 1 case. CONCLUSIONS: Although monoclonal IgH gene rearrangement is thought to be a reliable biomarker for PVRL, a high percentage of vitreous specimens from our FU patients showed pseudo-positive results. Ophthalmologists must take care regarding possible pseudo-positive findings when performing differential diagnosis between FU and PVRL. Combinations of results of cytological diagnosis, IL-10/IL-6 ratio, kappa/lambda ratio, and IgH gene rearrangement may be necessary for a definitive diagnosis of PVRL and differentiation from FU.

Effects of Japanese herbal medicine Sairei-to on murine experimental autoimmune uveitis.

PURPOSE: It has been suggested thatSairei-to (TJ114), a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, has immunomodulatory activities. To evaluate the effects of TJ114 on uveitis, we examined the effectiveness of oral administration in a murine model of experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU). METHODS: Murine EAU was induced by subcutaneous injection of human inter-photoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) peptide mixed with complete Freund's adjuvant. In the TJ114-treated group, 2 g/kg was administrated orally from 0 to 20 days after immunization. Clinical scoring, histopathological scoring of EAU, cell proliferation, cytokine assessment, and adoptive transfer experiment of splenic T cells into naïve mice were performed. RESULTS: EAU development occurred in 32 of 38 mice (86 %) in the untreated group and 12 of 33 (36 %) in the TJ114-treated group. The clinical scores for EAU in the vehicle-treated and TJ114-treated groups were 1.56 ± 1.65 and 0.59 ± 0.63 respectively, at 14 days after immunization (p < 0.01, Mann-Whitney U-test), and 2.26 ± 1.56 and 0.75 ± 1.31 respectively at 21 days (p < 0.001, Mann-Whitney U-test), while the histopathological scores at 21 days were 1.47 ± 1.42 and 0.54 ± 0.84 respectively (p < 0.01, Mann-Whitney U-test). Interferon (IFN)-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production by cervical lymph node cells obtained from the TJ114-treated group were significantly reduced as compared with those from the vehicle-treated group (p < 0.01, Student's unpaired t-test). Moreover, the levels of C-C motif chemokine 2 (CCL2) and IFN-γ were significantly reduced in splenocytes of TJ114-treated mice as compared with the vehicle-treated group (p < 0.01, Student's unpaired t-test). Mice that received adoptive transfer of splenic T cells from TJ114-treated EAU mice caused significantly lower severity of EAU compared to those that received from vehicle-treated EAU mice. CONCLUSION: Oral administration of TJ114 has an inhibitory effect on a murine model of EAU, possibly via reduction in cytokine production by helper type-1 T cells.

Clinical Features and Visual Outcome of Uveitis in Japanese Patients Younger than 18 Years.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical features and visual outcome of young Japanese patients with uveitis.Methods: Patients younger than 18 years who presented with uveitis at the University of Tokyo Hospital between 2000 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed.Results: The study comprised 98 patients whose mean age was 12.3 ± 3.8 years. Anterior uveitis was present in 52.0%, panuveitis in 37.8%, and posterior uveitis in 10.2%. The most common diagnosis was juvenile chronic iridocyclitis (JCI) (29.6%) followed by tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome (4.1%) and neuroretinitis (4.1%). Thirty-nine patients received systemic anti-inflammatory treatment. Among all subjects, 56% presented with ocular complications and 20% underwent ocular surgery. Visual acuity of 20/200 or less was observed in 6.2%. The common causes of decreased vision were hypotony, serous retinal detachment, and pupil disorder.Conclusions: JCI was the most common diagnosis. Hypotony, serous retinal detachment, and pupil disorder can lead to visual loss.

The Relationship between Fluorescein Angiography Leakage after Infliximab Therapy and Relapse of Ocular Inflammatory Attacks in Ocular Behçet's Disease Patients.

Purpose: To clarify the relationship between fluorescein angiography (FA) leakage after infliximab therapy and ocular attack relapse in patients with ocular Behçet's disease (BD). Methods: Patients with ocular BD were divided into two groups based on the presence (Group 1) or absence (Group 2) of ocular attacks after IFX therapy. FA leakage was evaluated by FA score in each of the optic discs, macula, large retinal vessels, and capillary vessels. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between FA score after IFX therapy and ocular attack relapse. Results: The areas under the curves obtained from the ROC curve of optic disc score and capillary vessels score after IFX therapy were 0.867 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.788-0.946) and 0.788 (95% CI: 0.649-0.927), respectively. Conclusions: FA leakage in the optic disc and capillary vessels after IFX therapy was strongly related to ocular attack relapse.

Comparisons of Clinical Features in Japanese Patients with Behçet's Uveitis Treated in the 1990s and the 2000s.

Purpose: We investigated clinical characteristics of ocular Behçet's disease (BD) patients treated in the 1990s and the 2000s.Methods: We retrospectively examined records of 68 newly arrived patients with ocular BD followed for more than 4 months during the 2000s and compared to those of 107 patients during the 1990s. Patient profiles, ocular and systemic symptoms, frequency of ocular attacks, BD ocular attack score 24-6 months (BOS24-6M), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and immunomodulatory treatment were noted.Results: Clinical characteristics in the 2000s showed increases in iridocyclitis type, intestinal-, vasculo-, and neuro-BD cases, oral corticosteroid, methotrexate, and infliximab therapy usage, cataract and glaucoma surgery, and pseudophakia, and decreases in BOS24-6M and cyclophosphamide usage. BCVA of 20/30 or better at the final visit was slightly increased in the 2000s.Conclusions: Milder ocular BD tendency was seen in cases in the 2000s, whereas the incidence of special type of BD might be increasing.

Retinal vascular inflammatory and occlusive changes in infectious and non-infectious uveitis.

PURPOSE: Retinal vasculitis and occlusive changes are important signs of posterior uveitis and are possible diagnostic markers for uveitis. However, the frequency of arteritis and phlebitis in various uveitis entities, including infectious uveitis (IU) and non-infectious uveitis (NIU), have not been systematically investigated. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. METHODS: We investigated the frequency of retinal vascular inflammatory and occlusive changes in patients with IU and NIU. The study included 283 patients with intermediate, posterior, or pan-uveitis who were diagnosed with IU (presumed tuberculous uveitis, acute retinal necrosis, cytomegalovirus retinitis, human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1-associated uveitis, toxoplasmic retinitis, syphilitic uveitis, rubella virus-associated uveitis, fungal endophthalmitis, and bacterial endophthalmitis) or NIU (sarcoidosis, Behçet's disease, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, human leukocyte antigen-B27-associated uveitis, systemic lupus erythematosus retinopathy, psoriatic uveitis, rheumatoid arthritis/collagen disease-associated uveitis, multiple sclerosis-associated uveitis, and sympathetic ophthalmia). All patients underwent fluorescein angiography (FA) and color photography examinations of the fundus. Presence of inflammatory and occlusive changes was determined by FA images. RESULTS: Significantly higher positive ratios of phlebitis, vein sheathing, vein occlusion, arteritis, artery sheathing, artery occlusion, and avascular areas were observed in the IU group than in the NIU group (p < 0.05). Notably, the discrepancy between IU and NIU was prominent with regard to retinal arterial changes (arteritis [57.9% vs 11.2%], inflammatory artery sheathing [33.7% vs 0%], and artery occlusion [22.1% vs 3.7%], respectively; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Findings of vasculitis and occlusion, especially in retinal arteries, in FA strongly suggest an infectious origin of active uveitis.

Association between subfoveal choroidal thickness and leakage site on fluorescein angiography in Behçet's uveitis.

This study aimed to clarify the association between the retinal leakage site on fluorescein angiography (FA) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT) measured using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). Twenty-two patients with Behçet's uveitis were retrospectively selected in this study. They underwent EDI-OCT and FA in both the active and convalescent phases. The associations of the changes between the active and convalescent phases in SCT and in FA leakage in various retinal areas (total retina, peripheral retina, macula, and optic disc) were examined. The changing rates of SCT between the two investigated phases were significantly associated with the changes in total FA leakage scores (y = 1.79X+ 11.7, r2 = 0.210, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the changes in FA leakage scores in the macula were correlated with the changing rates in SCT (y = 3.72X+ 13.9, r2 = 0.219, p < 0.05). By contrast, there were no significant associations between the changes in SCT and those in leakage from the peripheral retina or the optic disc on FA. These findings demonstrate that SCT may reflect macular vasculitis as determined using FA, and SCT measurement could be a non-invasive method to investigate inflammation near the macula in Behçet's uveitis.

Lymphocyte proliferation induced by high-affinity peptides for HLA-B*51:01 in Behçet's uveitis.

Several proteins have been proposed as candidate auto-antigens in the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease (BD). In this study, we aimed to confirm the cellular responses to candidate peptide autoantigens with high affinity for the HLA-B*51:01 molecule using computerized binding predictions and molecular dynamics simulations. We identified two new candidate peptides (HSP65PD, derived from heat shock protein-65, and B51PD, derived from HLA-B*51:01) with high-affinity to the HLA-B*51:01 binding pocket using the Immune Epitope Database for Major Histocompatibility Complex-I Binding Prediction and molecular dynamics simulations. The peptide-induced proliferation of lymphocytes from patients with BD, sarcoidosis, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH) with panuveitis, systemic scleroderma (SSc) without uveitis, and healthy controls (HC) was investigated using the bromodeoxyuridine assay. The proliferative response of leukocytes to HSP65PD was significantly higher in BD (SI 1.92 ± 0.65) than that in sarcoidosis (SI 1.38 ± 0.46), VKH (SI 1.40 ± 0.33), SSc (SI 1.32 ± 0.31), and HC (SI 1.27 ± 0.28) (P = 0.0004, P = 0.0007, P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, respectively, Mann-Whitney's U-test). The proliferative response of leukocytes to B51PD was also higher in BD than that in sarcoidosis, VKH, SSc without uveitis, and HC, whereas no significant differences were observed among the five groups in response to a control peptide derived from topoisomerase 1. A significantly higher response to HPS65PD and B51PD was observed in the HLA-B*51:01-positive patients with BD than in the HLA-B*51:01-negative patients. In conclusion, two peptides that had high affinity to HLA-B*51:01 in computerized binding prediction showed significantly higher response in HLA-B*51:01-positive patients with BD, indicating the usefulness of computerized simulations for identifying autoreactive peptides to HLAs.

Initial Trabeculectomy With Mitomycin-C for Secondary Glaucoma-associated With Uveitis in Behçet Disease Patients.

PURPOSE: To examine clinical outcomes following an initial trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C for secondary glaucoma associated with uveitis in Behçet disease (BD) patients. DESIGN: Retrospective interventional case series. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two eyes in 18 patients with uveitic glaucoma (UG) associated with Behçet disease who underwent an initial trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C between January 1996 and August 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. The main outcome measures were intraocular pressure (IOP) control, persistence of a filtering bleb, incidence of postoperative complications, and preopertaive and postoperative frequency of uveitic attacks. We analyzed persistence rates using Kaplan-Meier life tables based on 3 definitions of target IOP control (≤21, ≤18, ≤15 mm Hg) and filtering bleb persistence. RESULT: The persistence rates of postoperative IOP at ≤21, ≤18, and ≤15 mm Hg at 5 years after surgery were 76.1%, 71.5%, and 68.1%, respectively, whereas that of a filtering bleb was 54.4%. Hypotony as a postoperative complication was observed in 4 (18.2%) cases. No significant difference was observed between the preoperative and postoperative frequency of uveitic attacks (1.36±1.15 vs. 0.95±1.49 times/y, P=0.16). There was 1 case in which recurrence of uveitis after surgery caused a loss of filtering bleb, which required a reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: At 5 years after surgery, the persistence rate of postoperative IOP control (≤21 mm Hg) was 76.1% and that of a filtering bleb was 54.4%. The frequency of uveitis recurrence did not significantly increase after surgery. Attention must be paid to avoid such recurrence to maintain the filtering bleb.

Frequency of Uveitis in the Central Tokyo Area (2010-2012).

PURPOSE: To investigate the frequency of conditions of newly arrived patients with uveitis from 2010 to 2012 and compare this frequency with that since 2004. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical records of patients who visited the outpatient clinic from January 2010 to December 2012, and compared them with those from 2004-2009. RESULTS: From 2010 to 2012, 695 new patients with uveitis visited Tokyo University Hospital, with a definite diagnosis made in 431 (62.0%). The most common diagnosis was scleritis (8.3%), followed by sarcoidosis (8.1%); herpetic iridocyclitis (5.5%); Behçet disease (4.6%); Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (4.0%); acute anterior uveitis (3.7%); Posner-Schlossman syndrome (3.6%); intraocular malignant lymphoma (3.0%); and bacterial endophthalmitis (1.9%). The most frequent unclassified type of uveitis was sarcoidosis-suspected (14.8%). CONCLUSIONS: When compared with years 2004-2009, the present series showed an increasing trend of intraocular malignant lymphoma, bacterial endophthalmitis, and chronic iridocyclitis, and a notable increase in chronic iridocyclitis in young girls, with decreasing trends of scleritis and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

Behçet's disease ocular attack score 24 and visual outcome in patients with Behçet's disease.

AIMS: To investigate the ability of the Behçet's disease ocular attack score 24 (BOS24) scoring system to predict visual acuity (VA) in patients with ocular Behçet's disease. DESIGN: This is a retrospective study. METHODS: We included 91 eyes of 50 patients with ocular Behçet's disease (33 males, 17 females) who were referred to our hospital between 1986 and 2008 with >5 years follow-up. Total BOS24 scores over a 5-year period, BOS24-5Y, were calculated as the sum of BOS24 scores for each attack over the 5-year study period for each eye. Change in VA was defined as change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from the first remission to the last remission at the end of the target period. Factors related to change in VA (age, gender, BCVA at the first remission, total number of immunosuppressive medications and total number of ocular attacks during the 5-year period and BOS24-5Y) were evaluated using a linear mixed model. RESULTS: BCVA (logarithm of the minimal angle resolution) deteriorated from 0.16±0.30 (mean±SD) to 0.21±0.37 over the 5-year study period, but there was no statistical difference. The total number of ocular attacks during the 5-year period and BOS24-5Y scores were 10.0±7.9 and 36.8±40.8, respectively. Linear mixed-model analysis revealed that BOS24-5Y was the most important index for VA deterioration, followed by BCVA at the first remission. CONCLUSIONS: BOS24-5Y was found to be a significant positive prognostic index for VA deterioration in patients with ocular Behçet's disease.

Statistical analyses of Endogenous Uveitis Patients (2007-2009) in central Tokyo area and Comparison with Previous Studies (1963-2006).

PURPOSE: To investigate the frequencies of the diseases in the new patients with uveitis during 2007-2009 and compare them with previously-reported data from the University of Tokyo Hospital. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records of patients who visited the outpatient clinic from January 2007 to December 2009, and compared them with those of 1963-2006. RESULTS: During 2007-2009, 468 new patients visited our hospital. Definite diagnoses were made in 63.0%. Frequent diagnoses include sarcoidosis (9.4%), Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease (7.9%), herpetic iritis (6.0%), Behçet's disease (5.6%), Posner-Schlossman syndrome (4.3%), HLA-B27-associated uveitis (3.0%), and intraocular malignant lymphoma (2.8%). Compared with our former findings, the ratios of sarcoidosis, herpetic iritis, CMV retinitis, Fuch's heterochromic iridocyclitis, acute retinal necrosis and intraocular lymphoma increased, while that of Behçet's disease decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Top three uveitis during 2007-2009 were sarcoidosis, VKH disease, herpetic iritis. Reduced frequency of Behçet's disease was one of the most prominent characteristics.

Frequency doubling technology for earlier detection of functional damage in standard automated perimetry-normal hemifield in glaucoma with low-to-normal pressure.

PURPOSE: To compare the longitudinal change of frequency doubling technology (FDT) perimetry and standard automated perimetry (SAP) results in SAP-normal hemifield in open-angle glaucoma (OAG) eyes with low-to-normal intraocular pressure (IOP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: FDT perimetry with the N-30 full threshold protocol and SAP using the Humphrey Field Analyzer with the 30-2 Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithm-standard protocol were periodically performed for at least 3 years in 39 eyes of 39 OAG patients with low-to-normal IOP and visual field damage confined to only one hemifield. The time courses of the mean of the threshold values of FDT and the mean of total deviations (TDs) in SAP-normal and SAP-abnormal fields were analyzed using a linear mixed model. RESULTS: The average follow-up was 4.9 years and the average IOP during follow-up was 12.6 mm Hg with or without medication. The aging effect-corrected rate of change in the mean FDT threshold values was significantly negative (P=0.004) in the SAP-normal hemifield, whereas that of mean of TD values by SAP did not significantly differ. In the SAP-abnormal hemifield, the rate of change was significantly negative for both tests (P<0.001). The mean of the slope of the mean TD values in the SAP-abnormal hemifield was significantly more negative than that in the SAP-normal hemifield (P=0.011), whereas that of the mean FDT threshold values showed no significant difference between the 2 hemifields. CONCLUSIONS: FDT is useful for monitoring functional damage in the SAP-normal hemifield in OAG eyes with low-to-normal IOP.