Non-infectious retinal vasculitis

Retinal vasculitis is a common clinical feature in intermediate and posterior uveitis. It is defined as either clinical or angiographic evidence of vascular inflammation accompanied by intraocular inflammation. It may be a primary inflammation of the blood vessel or, more commonly, secondary to inflammation of adjacent structures such as the retina or the choroid. In most series, the most common systemic diseases associated with retinal vasculitis is Behçet’s disease. Primary vasculitides such as polyarteritis nodosa or ANCA-associated vasculitis are rarely associated with retinal vasculitis. The most common clinical findings in retinal vasculitis are vitritis and vascular sheathing. The retinal veins are more commonly involved than the arteries. Treatment of retinal vasculitis is aimed at improving vision as well as preventing complications caused either by the intraocular inflammation or from ischemia and involves both systemic immunomodulatory therapy as well as ocular treatment such as intravitreal steroids and anti-VEGF injections. With proper therapy the prognosis is good.