Clinical Characteristics of Ocular Sarcoidosis: A Population-Based Study 1976-2013

Purpose: To characterize the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of ocular involvement in patients with systemic sarcoidosis. Methods: An inception cohort of patients with systemic sarcoidosis in 1976-2013 in Olmsted County, Minnesota, was identified based on comprehensive individual medical record review. Medical records of those patients were then reviewed for ocular involvement. Results: A total of 345 incident cases of systemic sarcoidosis were identified. Ocular involvement occurred in 23 patients (7%). The most common ocular disease was uveitis (61%) followed by dry eye disease, conjunctival nodule, episcleritis, anterior scleritis, and conjunctivitis. Anterior uveitis was the most common type of uveitis (71%). The visual outcome of uveitis was favorable with only one patient lost three or more lines of VA during follow-up and had VA of less than 20/200 at last visit. Conclusion: Ocular involvement occurred in 7% of sarcoidosis patients. Uveitis was the most common type of ocular disease.