Corneal involvement in systemic inflammatory diseases

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Rheumatology
• Immunology

Background:

• Systemic inflammatory disorders can cause sight-threatening corneal complications.
• Autoimmune connective tissue diseases, dermatological disorders, and lacrimal system diseases are significant contributors.
• Keratoconjunctivitis sicca is a common ocular finding, while peripheral ulcerative keratitis indicates potential vasculitis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review corneal abnormalities and characteristics in patients with systemic inflammatory diseases.
• To highlight the association between corneal issues and systemic disease severity.
• To discuss the implications for ocular surgery in patients with autoimmune conditions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of corneal manifestations in systemic inflammatory diseases.
• Analysis of clinical findings, including keratoconjunctivitis sicca and peripheral ulcerative keratitis.
• Examination of corneal biomechanical properties and wound healing in autoimmune disease.

Main Results:

• Corneal involvement is a serious complication of systemic inflammation.
• Peripheral ulcerative keratitis is a rare but critical indicator of systemic vasculitis.
• Altered corneal biomechanics are observed in connective tissue diseases.

Conclusions:

• Corneal abnormalities are significant in systemic inflammatory disorders, impacting vision and potentially indicating systemic severity.
• While surgical risks may be low in quiescent disease, caution is advised due to incomplete understanding of corneal healing and biomechanics.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate corneal behavior in these patients.