Morphologic changes in the anterior segment in patients with initial-onset or recurrent Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

Objective: To investigate morphologic changes in anterior segments based on inflammatory phases of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH).

Methods: The author recruited 76 consecutive eyes of 38 patients with initial-onset VKH and 52 eyes of 26 patients with recurrent VKH. Morphologic changes in anterior segments were measured by ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). UBM parameters and intraocular pressure (IOP) were compared between two groups.

Results: Ciliary thickness and area significantly increased in the recurrent group compared with the initial-onset group. Twelve patients (31%) in the initial-onset group showed supraciliary effusions, but no patients in the recurrent group had supraciliary effusions. Angle opening and anterior chamber depth were significantly decreased in the initial-onset group compared with the recurrent group. High IOP > 30 mmHg was found in 7 patients with initial-onset disease, while low IOP < 10 mmHg was detected in 6 patients with recurrent disease.

Conclusions: The results indicate that morphologic changes associated with IOP alterations depend on inflammatory phases of VKH disease.