Surgical treatment of uveitis.

The results obtained by pars plana vitrectomy in 24 eyes with chronic uveitis, including endogenous intermediate and other types of uveitis, were retrospectively analyzed. Vitrectomy and lensectomy were performed in 8, and vitrectomy alone in 16 eyes. The mean follow-up period was 50 months, and mean patient age 38 years. There were 15 (71.4%) male and 6 (28.6%) female patients. Improvement of visual acuity was achieved in 79% (19), and visual acuity of > or = 0.1 in 58% of eyes. Visual acuity of < 0.2, recorded in 14 eyes, was due to optic disc atrophy in 4, cystoid macular edema in 3, macular pucker in 2, vascular obliteration in 2, and chorioretinal scars in 3 eyes. Postoperative complications included cataract in 4, vitreous hemorrhage in 2, glaucoma in 1, and retinal detachment in 3 eyes. Vitrectomy considerably reduced the severity of inflammatory reaction, and allowed reduction or discontinuation of local and systemic steroid therapy.