Ocular manifestations of chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome

Chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) is a disease presenting with systemic, sensory, cognitive, and psychological manifestations. Ocular symptomatology is reported in the visual, functional, perceptual, and pathological aspects of the visual system. The purpose of the research was to evaluate ocular symptoms in patients with CFIDS. One hundred and ninety CFIDS patients [155 females, 35 males; mean age of 41 years (range 15 to 72)] and 198 healthy controls [133 females, 65 males; mean age of 42 years (range 8 to 89)] were surveyed via written questionnaire. Evaluation of data showed statistical significance at levels ranging from 0.0001 to 0.007 for all but one symptom surveyed. It appears that the ocular symptoms of CFIDS are genuine. Further research is needed to determine the etiology and appropriate treatment of this disease.