Ocular Involvement in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: The Experience of Two Tertiary Referral Centers.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of the ocular manifestations related to the disease and/or ascribable to the administration of potentially toxic drugs in a cohort of 98 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODS

Retrospective, observational study reporting the experience of two tertiary referral centers.

RESULTS

Overall, an ocular involvement was detected in 29 patients (29.6%), sometimes preceding of months the diagnosis of SLE, more often revealed at diagnosis or throughout its course. More than a single ocular manifestation was found in 20 of the 29 patients with ophthalmological findings (68.9%). The array of ocular morbidity included, in a decreasing order of frequency, cataracts, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, glaucoma, discoid lesions of eyelids, episcleritis, retinopathy, vortex keratopathy, choroidopathy and retinal detachment, central retinal vein occlusion, and hydroxychloroquine-induced toxic maculopathy.

CONCLUSIONS

It is advised that a multidisciplinary team for the diagnosis and treatment of SLE should regularly include the presence of an ophthalmologist.