Role of Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography in Assessment of Anterior Uveitis in Behçet's Disease

Background: Behçet’s disease (BD) is a chronic autoimmune vasculitis that affects multiple organ systems. Although its precise etiology remains elusive, it manifests with a diverse spectrum of clinical presentations.
Aim of the work: This study's primary objective was to assess anterior segment ocular findings in patients presenting with anterior uveitis associated with Behçet’s disease, utilizing Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography (AS-OCT).
Patients and methods: This prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at Al-Zahraa University Hospital, involving the Rheumatology and Ophthalmology Departments. It included 20 patients (40 eyes) diagnosed with BD (group A) and 20 healthy controls (40 eyes) (group B).
Results: A highly significant difference (p < 0.01) was observed in visual acuity (VA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) between group A and group B. Group A exhibited significantly lower mean VA (0.22 ± 0.10) and BCVA (0.06 ± 0.04) compared to group B (0.06 ± 0.05 and 0.02 ± 0.02 respectively) indicating superior visual function in controls. AS-OCT findings, particularly pachymetry measurements, also showed a highly significant difference (p < 0.01) in central pachymetry between groups. Group A had a significantly lower mean central pachymetry (522.8 ± 11.5 µm) than group B (532.2 ± 5.1 µm), suggesting potential corneal thinning in BD-associated uveitis.
Conclusion: This study underscored significant ocular alterations linked to Behçet's disease in patients with anterior uveitis, specifically identifying corneal thinning (indicated by lower central pachymetry) and reduced visual acuity.