[Sympathetic ophthalmia, one missing disease?].

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Immunology

Context:

• Sympathetic ophthalmia is a rare, bilateral granulomatous inflammation of the uveal tract.
• It typically occurs after penetrating ocular trauma or intraocular surgery.

Purpose:

• To report the incidence, clinical presentation, and management of sympathetic ophthalmia in a series of patients.
• To emphasize the importance of clinical diagnosis and prompt treatment.

Summary:

• Ten cases of sympathetic ophthalmia were treated between 1992-1996, representing 0.16% of hospitalized patients.
• Causes included corneoscleral penetrating wounds, cataract surgery complications, angle-closure glaucoma, and herpetic corneal ulcers.
• The time from ocular trauma to sympathetic ophthalmia onset was two months in most cases.
• Clinical presentations varied, including anterior uveitis, panuveitis, and uveopapillitis.
• Pathologic examination of the enucleated eye was not specific; diagnosis relied on clinical findings.
• Treatment with corticotherapy and immunomodulators resulted in a benign evolution.

Impact:

• Highlights the persistent occurrence of sympathetic ophthalmia, underscoring it as a condition not to be underestimated.
• Demonstrates the effectiveness of current therapeutic strategies in managing sympathetic ophthalmia.
• Emphasizes the critical role of clinical acumen in diagnosing sympathetic ophthalmia, especially when histopathology is inconclusive.