Risk factors for ocular complications and poor visual acuity at presentation among patients with uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

center dot PURPOSE: To describe the frequencies of and risk factors for ocular complications and poor visual acuity at presentation in a cohort of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis. center dot DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. center dot METHODS: SETTING: single-center, academic practice. STUDY POPULATION: Seventy-five patients with JIA-associated uveitis were evaluated between July 1984 and August 2005. OBSERVATION PROCEDURES: Data on patients diagnosed with JIA-associated uveitis were entered retrospectively into a database and analyzed. OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual acuity of 20/50 or worse or 20/200 or worse, and presence of ocular complications (including cataract, posterior synechiae, band keratopathy, elevated intraocular pressure, hypotony, macular edema, and epiretinal membrane) at presentation. center dot RESULTS: At presentation, ocular complications were seen in 67% of eyes affected by JIA-associated uveitis. Presence of >= 1+ anterior chamber flare, a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA), and a shorter duration between the diagnosis of arthritis and uveitis were sig. nificantly associated with the presence of ocular complication. The frequencies of 20/50 or worse and of 20/200 or worse visual acuities at presentation in affected eyes were 36% and 24%, respectively. The presence of >= 1+ anterior chamber flare and a history of intraocular surgery before presentation were significantly associated with 20/50 or worse and 20/200 or worse vision. Presence of posterior synechiae also was associated with 20/200 or worse vision at presentation. The main causes of poor vision at presentation for affected eyes and better-seeing eyes were cataract, band keratopathy within the visual axis, and glaucoma. center dot CONCLUSIONS: Ocular complications and poor vision t presentation were common in our patients with JIA-related uveitis.