Clinical Outcome of Retinal Vasculitis and Predictors for Prognosis of Ischemic Retinal Vasculitis

Purpose To determine factors affecting the visual outcome in eyes with retinal vasculitis and the rate of neovascularization relapse in ischemic vasculitis. Design Retrospective cohort study. Methods We reviewed 1169 uveitis patients from Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK. Retinal vasculitis was observed in 236 eyes (121 ischemic, 115 nonischemic) that were compared with a control group (1022 eyes) with no retinal vasculitis. Ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography images were obtained in 63 eyes with ischemic vasculitis to quantify area of nonperfusion measured as ischemic index. Results The risk of vision loss was significantly more in the retinal vasculitis compared with the non-vasculitis group (hazard ratio [HR] 1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24–2.25, P = .001). Retinal vasculitis had twice the risk of macular edema compared to the non-vasculitis group. Macular ischemia increased the risk of vision loss in vasculitis eyes by 4.4 times. The use of systemic prednisolone in eyes with vasculitis was associated with a reduced risk of vision loss (HR 0.36, 95% CI 0.15–0.82, P = .01). Laser photocoagulation was administered in 75 eyes (62.0%), out of which 29 (38.1%) had new vessel relapse and required additional laser treatment. The median ischemic index was 25.8% (interquartile range 10.2%–46%). Ischemia involving ≥2 quadrants was associated with increased risk of new vessel formation (HR 2.7, 95% CI 1.3–5.5, P = .003). Conclusions Retinal vasculitis is associated with an increased risk of vision loss, mainly secondary to macular ischemia, and has a higher risk of macular edema compared to eyes with no vasculitis. Ischemia involving ≥2 quadrants is a risk factor for new vessel formation.