Ocular manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, immunologic disorder that may affect multiple organ systems. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca is the most common ocular manifestation, but visual morbidity is usually due to retinal and neuro-ophthalmic manifestations of the disease. Ocular manifestations of lupus are a reflection of systemic disease. The presence of ocular manifestations should alert the clinician to the likely presence of disease activity elsewhere. Therefore, all patients with ocular lupus should be carefully evaluated for systemic involvement to detect potentially treatable and preventable complications of the disease. In addition, the ophthalmologist should include SLE in the differential diagnosis of many retinal vascular and neuro-ophthalmic disorders. The ophthalmologist may play an important role in the care of patients with SLE, since ocular inflammatory lesions may precede potentially serious extraocular disease.

Ocular Manifestations in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

“…The retinal signs often parallel the severity of systemic inflammation, and may indicate control of the systemic disease [69,70]. SLE retinopathy: There is a strong correlation between presence of retinopathy and central nervous system disease such as cerebrovascular attacks, dementia, seizure, chorea, and transverse myelopathy [71][72][73].…”

Bilateral combined central retinal artery and vein occlusion in systemic lupus erythematosus resulting in complete blindness

“…1 The classic retinal findings are haemorrhages and cotton-wool spots and VA is generally unaffected. A rare form of retinopathy seen in patients with SLE is the so-called severe vaso-occlusive retinopathy.…”

Fermented <i>Cordyceps cicadae</i> Mycelia Extracts Ameliorate Dry Eye Symptoms through Reduction of Cornea Epithelial Cell Apoptosis and Maintenance of Conjunctival Goblet Cells in a Mouse Dry Eye Model

“…Previous studies indicated that inflammation, such as seen in systemic autoimmune diseases including Sjogren's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus, is a common manifestation of dry eye symptoms [4,5]. Some researchers have thus proposed to use topical or systemic immunomodulatory therapy in severe dry eye conditions [6,7].…”