Incidence and Risk Factors for Blindness in Uveitis: A Nationwide Cohort Study from 2002 to 2013

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the incidence and risk factors of blindness in uveitis. Methods: From a national sample cohort (n = 1,025,340), we selected 9,036 new-onset uveitis patients. Incidences of unilateral and bilateral blindness (visual acuities <= 20/400) were estimated and socioeconomic and clinical risk factors for unilateral blindness in uveitis patients were identified. Result: Incidence of unilateral and bilateral blindness was 2.93 and 0.42 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. The risk factors for unilateral blindness were age >40 (hazard ratio [HR], 2.77, 95% CI [confidence interval], 1.11-6.92) and low household income (HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.02-1.98) in uveitis overall, and Behcet's disease (HR, 4.49; 95% CI, 1.59-12.71) in non-anterior uveitis, respectively. Conclusions: Low household income and Behcet's disease influence the risk of blindness in uveitis patients. These findings will help in assessing blindness-related socioeconomic burdens and planning health-care strategies for uveitis patients.