Most uveitis cases in China are idiopathic, with no identifiable cause.
Uveitis Etiology in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Tom Liba et al. · Seminars in ophthalmology · 2026
Purpose
Define the etiologic profile of uveitis in China.
Methods
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-guided systematic review of studies from PubMed, Scopus, PubMed Central, Web of Science, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) (January 2005-January 2025).
n = 2,273 records
41.75%
Results
of eye inflammation cases in China, the cause was unknown
n = 2,273 records
More results
Of 2,273 records, 10 studies met criteria (2005-2025; sample sizes 144-15373).
Infectious causes were less frequent: herpetic uveitis 2.22% (95% CI 1.47-3.34%), acute retinal necrosis (ARN) 0.94% (95% CI 0.39-2.25%), and syphilis 1.03% (95% CI 0.59-1.79%), although rates varied significantly across centers.
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Conclusion
Uveitis in China is largely idiopathic (~41.75%), with a predominance of autoimmune etiologies, specifically Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome and Behçet's disease. These findings reflect a distinct epidemiological profile.