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Updated: May 16, 2026
Induction of Ocular Surface Inflammation and Collection of Involved Tissues
Published on: August 4, 2022
Ocular symptoms are not predictive of ophthalmologic inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease
Véronique Cloché1, Anthony Buisson, Fanny Tréchot
1Department of Ophthalmology, Nancy University Hospital, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
Background:
Ocular manifestations are frequent in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Aim:
To evaluate for the first time the value of ocular symptoms in predicting ophthalmologic inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease.
Methods:
All consecutive inflammatory bowel disease patients seen in the Department of Gastroenterology (Nancy, University Hospital, France) between April 2009 and July 2011 were interviewed for this cross-sectional study using a pre-established questionnaire. If the patient had at least one ocular symptom, he systematically underwent an ophthalmologic examination (visual acuity, Break-Up Time test, Schirmer Test, slit-lamp exam with fundus examination).
Results:
This cross-sectional survey was completed by 305 patients: 169 were women (55.2%), 228 had Crohn's disease (74.5%). Ninety-eight patients (32%) reported at least one ocular symptom: ocular irritation (56.8%), red eye (40.5%), blurred vision (37.8%), progressive visual loss (34.4%), ocular pain (31.1%), myodesopsia (23.3%), eyelid secretion (12.2%), dry eye (9.5%), watering (6.8%), diplopia (5.4%), metamorphopsia (4%), and sudden visual loss (4%). Following ophthalmologic examination (n=74), 41.9% patients had evidence of dry eye (n=31), 14.9% blepharitis (n=11) and 1.4% scleritis (n=1). No uveitis was reported.
Conclusion:
Ocular symptoms are frequent in inflammatory bowel disease, but are non-specific and rarely associated with ocular inflammation. Systematic ocular symptoms assessment is of poor value for diagnosing ocular inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease.
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