A survey of uveitis in Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

65 patients attending Kenyatta National -Hospital eye department who were diagnosed as having uveitis were reviewed by me during a six month period; interviewed and examined. The patients' tribal and regional background was inquired about. Uveitis was graded into chronic or acute depending on the symptoms and findings. It was found that most of the patients presented with chronic uveitis with already established complications. Many such patients either came late or had been on treatment for sometime either at Kenyatta National Hospital or elsewhere. The age-of presentation and the sex was also analysed and

it showed that most of the patients presented with uveitis were between the ages of 10-40 years. There were--slightly more males than females. 61.5% of the patients presented with anterior uveitis only compared with 13.8% with posterior uveitis only and 24.7% with both anterior and posterior uveitis. Complications following uveitis were noted in over 80% of the patients with synechia and cataract formation being the commonest complications. other complications noted included glaucoma, maculopathy, hypotony, phthisis, corneal opacities and retinal detachment. Only 10% of the patients had associated findings which would explain the uveal inflammation. The rest of the patients had no associated problems. Laboratory and other investigations were carried out on some patients; but for most patients this was not possible because of problems that will be mentioned later.