Ocular syphilis--back again: understanding recent increases in the incidence of ocular syphilitic disease.

Purpose: The clinical findings and outcomes of 12 cases of luetic uveitis are reported.

Methods: Review of clinical records.

Results: Patients included 10 men and 2 women; 7 were homosexual, 9 HIV-positive. Six patients presented a medical history suggestive of syphilis. All patients presented with iritis and vitritis. Visual acuity improved in 11 patients after treatment.

Conclusions: Syphilis has reemerged in developed countries. This may be related to the post-AID S/HAART era, with a growing pool of HIV-positive men who oftenly practice unsafe sex. We underscore the importance of a high index of suspicion of ocular syphilis in patients with these characteristics.