Vision loss is preventable in most children who suffer from the dual issues of uveitis and a higher-than-normal intraocular pressure (IOP), according to a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Researchers from the Manchester Uveitis Clinic looked at 320 patients younger than 16 years who presented with uveitis from July 2002 to June 2016, 17% of whom required treatment for elevated IOP. The researchers found that the mean pre-treatment IOP of 32.3mm Hg ±6.6mm Hg fell to an average of 15.5mm Hg ±3.7mm Hg 43.7 months later with various interventions, including cyclodiode laser and glaucoma drainage surgery. Of those in need of IOP reduction, 37% required drainage surgery and only four of the treated eyes qualified as blind, the report says.

For most, vision was spared. Best-corrected visual acuity remained relatively stable at 0.26±0.42 logMAR at diagnosis and 0.28±0.65 logMAR at final follow-up visit.

“Our cohort of children with raised IOP appeared to have a good outcome overall through aggressive medical and surgical management,” concluded the research team, attributing the success to a combination of long-term follow-up and early surgical intervention.