Serife Ciloglu Hayat, Yusuf Cem Yilmaz
Retina-Vitreus - 2025;34(4):310-318
Purpose: To assess the frequency, causes, and clinical patterns of uveitis cases initially misdiagnosed as non-inflammatory retinal diseases. Methods: This retrospective study included 42 patients referred to the retina unit between September 2020 and June 2025 with initial non-uveitic diagnoses. After comprehensive clinical and imaging evaluation, patients who were ultimately diagnosed with uveitis were included. Demographic data, clinical findings, anatomical classification, final diagnoses, time to diagnosis, and imaging modalities used were recorded. Results: The mean age was 37.3 +/- 15 years, and 54.8% of the patients were female. Bilateral involvement was observed in 29 patients, and a total of 71 eyes were analyzed. The most common anatomical classification was panuveitis (57.7% of eyes). The most frequent incorrect referral diagnoses included central serous chorioretinopathy (23.8%), rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (19%), vitreous hemorrhage, and retinal vein occlusion (9.5%). Final diagnoses included Behçet's disease (21.4%), tuberculosis-related uveitis (19%), Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (14.3%), Bartonella neuroretinitis (9.5%), and others. The average time to accurate diagnosis was 3.5 +/- 3.9 days. Time to diagnosis was significantly shorter in non-infectious cases (p = 0.034). Conclusion: Uveal diseases can often mimic retinal pathologies, which may delay the diagnosis and result in irreversible visual loss. Detailed anterior and posterior segment examinations, along with appropriate multimodal imaging techniques, are essential for accurate diagnosis. Systemic consultation and advanced imaging further support diagnostic accuracy.
