Disease of the Year: Differential Diagnosis of Uveitic Macular Edema

Abstract

Uveitic cystoid macular edema (UME) is an important cause of visual morbidity among patients with both infectious and non-infectious uveitis. UME may be associated in more than 30% cases of active uveitis. However, even patients with minimal features of intraocular inflammation may develop recurrent or chronic UME. Therefore, the evaluation and management of UME in patients with uveitis may be challenging. A number of vitreoretinal pathologies may result in UME and accumulation of fluid in the intra- or subretinal space. These need to be carefully distinguished from each other so that appropriate management can be initiated. All types of uveitis, including anterior uveitis (where the primary site of inflammation is not in the posterior segment) can present with UME. Other conditions such as diabetes, and surgery, can present with macular edema. This index review highlights various differential diagnoses of UME and provides illustrative case examples with multimodal imaging evaluation.