Repeated eye inflammation, beware of these 7 kinds of rheumatism!

*For medical professional reading reference only

What eye symptoms are associated with rheumatism?

There is a special type of patients who often go to the ophthalmologist because of repeated eye inflammation, but the relief is not obvious after instillation of eye drops

Scleritis refers to chronic inflammation of the sclera

Figure 2 Necrotizing scleritis with underlying uveal exposure and associated scleral necrosis area

Peripheral ulcerative keratitis refers to inflammation and ulceration of the cornea characterized by thinning of the corneal interstitial layer near the limbus, usually unilateral, and crescent-shaped

Figure 3 Crescent-shaped corneal ulcer with neovascularization

Uveitis is inflammation of the uvea, which is located between the outer sclera and the inner retina

Figure 4 Acute anterior uveitis

Retinal vasculitis is an inflammatory reaction of retinal blood vessels, most commonly seen in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or Behçet's syndrome

Figure 5 Retinal vasculitis

Sjögren's syndrome is a slowly progressive, immune-mediated inflammatory disease targeting the exocrine glands, causing lymphocytic infiltration, resulting in dry mouth and eyes

Conjunctivitis is mainly manifested as eye discomfort, white foamy discharge, mild or inconspicuous hyperemia of the palpebral conjunctiva.
It can be seen in patients with Rett syndrome in rheumatism.
The typical clinical manifestations of such patients are conjunctivitis, urethra inflammation and arthritis triad
.

Therefore, when it is accompanied by urethritis, arthritis, and skin and mucous membrane damage, it can be further investigated in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology for timely treatment
.

7.
Ischemic optic neuropathy

Ischemic optic neuropathy refers to damage to the optic nerve due to insufficient blood supply.
The most common systemic disease is giant cell arteritis
.

About 22% of patients with giant cell arteritis will experience visual symptoms, of which 12% will have irreversible vision loss
.

Patients often present with anorexia, persistent temporal headache, and scalp tenderness
.

Twenty-one percent of patients with giant cell arteritis had permanent vision loss without systemic symptoms
.

The visual presentation of ischemic optic neuropathy is painless, sudden blindness
.
In short, the patient's eyes are repeatedly inflamed.
If the conventional treatment is not effective, and other systemic symptoms are combined, it is necessary to visit the rheumatology and immunology department to determine whether the above seven rheumatic diseases are present
.

references

[1] Hart C, Ferdinands M, Barnsley L.
Ocular complications of rheumatic diseases.
Med J Aust.
2017; 206(5):224-228.

[2] Rosenbaum JT, Dick AD.
The Eyes Have it: A Rheumatologist's View of Uveitis.
Arthritis Rheumatol.
2018;70(10):1533-1543.

Where can I find more rheumatism clinical knowledge?
Come and have a look at the "Doctor Station"👇