Systemic Diseases and Ocular Manifestations

myasthenia gravis

a chronic autoimmune condition that interferes with proper nerve transmission in the skeletal muscles, causing selective muscle weakness; ocular manifestations are ptosis and diplopia

rheumatoid arthritis

a chronic disease of unknown origin that causes pain, stiffness, inflammation, swelling, and sometimes destruction of the joints; ocular manifestations are dry eye, uveitis, scleritis, episcleritis, and peripheral corneal melting/ulcer

sarcoidosis

causes inflammation and microscopic nodules called granulomas that affect almost all systems of the body; ocular manifestations are uveitis, anterior uveitis, vitritis, and synchiae

synchiae

scarring of the pupil

Sjogren syndrome

an immune system disorder characterized by dry eyes and dry mouth; ocular manifestation is keratoconjunctivitis sicca

keratoconjunctivitis sicca

symptoms include photophobia and perception of burning, grittiness, or foreign-body sensation

systemic lupus erythematosus

an autoimmune disorder that can affect many body systems and organs, including the skin, blood vessels, lungs, and kidneys; primarily affects women; ocular manifestations are dry eyes, scleritis, and corneal ulcers, but primarily conditions affecting the vessels of the retina and the optic nerve itself

thyroid disease

an autoimmune condition that causes the body’s immune system to attack the thyroid gland; ocular manifestations are extraocular muscle swelling, proptosis, and exposure keratopathy

exposure keratopathy

exposes the delicate ocular surface, associated with drying of the conjunctiva and corneal surface, and can lead to loss of vision from corneal scarring or perforation

multiple sclerosis

a chronic disease of the nervous system affecting the white matter of the spinal cord and brain; ocular manifestation is optic neuritis

panretinal laser photocoagulation

laser surgery effective in preventing blindness from diabetic retinopathy

embolus

results from a stroke; a plaque of cholesterol or calcium or a clot of blood cells that plugs tiny vessels of the retina and/or the optic nerve and blocks blood circulation for a finite period; can produce a sudden loss of vision, often in just on eye

giant cell/temporal arteritis

affects the circulation of blood in the medium-sized arteries; ocular manifestations are severe optic nerve damage due to reduced blood supply, vision loss, eye muscle imbalance

hypertension

impairs blood circulation and damages blood vessels throughout the body; ocular manifestation is problems in the vessels supplying the retina, choroid, and optic nerve

chlamydial conjunctivitis

symptoms include eye redness and discharge

herpes zoster ophtalmicus

can cause uveitis, keratitis, and retinitis

ocular herpes simplex

can lead to blepharitis, conjunctivitis, keratitis, and other, more severe corneal conditions

histoplasmosis

a systemic fungal infection contracted by inhaling dust from soil containing spores of the fungus; ocular manifestations involve choroidal and retinal scarring, and subretinal hemorrhages from choroidal neovascularization

syphilis

a highly contagious sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum; ocular manifestations may be uveitis, defects in pupillary function, retinal vasculitis, and optic neuropathy

toxoplasmosis

an infection caused by a protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii, which may be passed from mother to fetus or contracted from contact with animal feces; ocular manifestations may be severe uveitis, vitritis, and retinochoroiditis resulting in decreased vision