Ocular manifestations of Lyme disease

The incidence of Lyme disease has been increasing at alarming rates in recent years. Being the most commonly reported tickborne bacterial disease in the United States, it now outnumbers Rocky Mountain spotted fever by a ratio of almost 2:1. It is a multisystem illness and can manifest itself with dermatologic, neurologic, cardiac and rheumatologic involvement. The ocular complications of Lyme disease can present as one of the more ominous signs during the course of the illness. The detection of the disease and proper referral by the optometrist may permit more appropriate treatment, and thus, a better prognosis of the illness.