Purpose:To correlate rheumatologic with ophthalmic and laboratory findings in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to identify what effect these have on development of ocular disease.Methods:This is a cross-sectional study of 172 eyes of 86 patients with RA. Patients were examined by a group of rheumatologists. Sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected. All patients underwent complete ophthalmologic examination including corneal topography and endothelial cell count.Results:There was no significant correlation between RA-negative prognostic indicators (NPIs) and pathologic corneal findings. Patients using disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and antimalarial drugs had greater corneal volumes (mean difference 8.51 mm3, 90% confidence interval [CI], 3.98–13.04, P = 0.004; and 2.24, 90% CI, 0.32–4.54, P = 0.048, respectively). Patients using azathioprine had lower endothelial cell counts compared with those using other drugs (mean difference 180 cells/mm2, 90% CI, 69–291, P = 0.008). Patients using biologic DMARDs had better tear osmolarity values (between 280 and 300 mOsm/L) than patients not using them (mean difference 14.3 mOsm/L, P = 0.022). There was no correlation between NPIs of RA and positive keratoconus screening indices (Spearman correlation OD −0.013, P = 0.91; OS −0.033, P = 0.76).Conclusions:There was no clear correlation between RA-NPIs and pathologic corneal findings in our study. DMARDs treatment may help maintain corneal integrity in our patients and prevented collagenolytic manifestations of RA. Other medications such as azathioprine should be used carefully, as endothelial damage may potentially occur.

BACKGROUND; Our aim was to describe wound healing and nerve regeneration in the human cornea after excimer laser in situ keratomileusis. METHODS: Excimer laser in situ keratomileusis was done in three human eyes 8 days, 54 days, and 4 months prior to enucleation. Acetylcholinesterase reaction was used to histochemically demonstrate the corneal nerves. Immunohistochemical methods were used to demonstrate the following wound healing proteins: cellular fibronectin, tenascin, transforming growth factor-ßl, and a-smooth muscle actin. RESULTS: All corneas healed without complication. No epithelial hyperplasia appeared and the Bowman's layer was smooth and acellular. An epithelial plug extending up to 100-300 µ?? under the flap margins was seen in all specimens. Regenerative nerve fiber bundles emerging from sharply cut anterior stromal nerves were observed, but the deeper nerves were normal. Restricted expression of fibronectin and tenascin was found at the wound area. All corneal cell types were positive for transforming growth factor-ßl antibody. Cells lining the limbal vessels were positive for a-smooth muscle actin antibody whereas the corneal cells were negative. CONCLUSIONS: The nerve morphology showed only a few abnormalities, especially in deep stromal nerves. Epithelial plugs at the flap margins may maintain a delayed wound healing process for several months but otherwise the process remained active for a relatively short time. [J Refract Surg 1996;12:677-683]

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Antecedentes: La oftalmía nodosa (ON) fue descrita por primera vez por Schön en 1861, y desde entonces ha recibido múltiples nombres, ampliando la identificación de los agentes causales. En Colombia no se tienen referencias precisas sobre dichos agentes. Objetivo: Realizar revisión de tema sobre una enfermedad subdiagnosticada como la ON.