[Retinal vasculitis]

Retinal vasculitis is an inflammatory permeability disorder of the retinal vascular wall affecting chiefly the veins and capillary vessels. It is diagnosed at ophthalmoscopy which demonstrates vascular sheathing and even better at fluorescein angioscopy which shows the colouring agent diffusing from the vessels. As regards its aetiology and treatment, retinal vasculitis is disconcerting. Except in those cases where a systemic disease can be blamed, the condition is isolated, usually chronic and often recurrent. It may result in visual impairment or, exceptionally, blindness.