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Published on: June 17, 2025
Single Center Retrospective Study of Patients with Ocular Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid (MMP)
Mark Morel1, Taryn DeGrazia2, Laura Ward3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Purpose:
Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) with ocular involvement often leads to devastating vision loss from ocular surface disease. This study sought to better characterize presenting symptoms, clinical characteristics, important factors in clinical progression, and visual acuity over time.
Methods:
A retrospective chart review was performed on 88 patients seen at the Emory Eye Center between January 1, 2012 and July 1, 2017 for ocular MMP.
Results:
A large percentage of patients with MMP presented at later stages. Partial or complete loss of the fornices and symblepharon were the most common initial disease complications. The time to clinical stabilization usually occurred 1 year after initial presentation.
Conclusions:
Ocular MMP is a devastating disease that often presents to tertiary care hospitals at late stages and leads to numerous eyelid and ocular surface changes. This study demonstrated that presenting clinical signs are broad and that stabilization of visual acuity takes months.
Insights
Ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) often presents late, causing severe ocular surface disease and vision loss. Stabilization of visual acuity can take months, highlighting the need for early diagnosis and intervention in this autoimmune condition.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Ocular Surface Disease
Background:
- Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) with ocular involvement is a severe autoimmune blistering disease.
- It frequently leads to significant vision loss due to progressive ocular surface damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the presenting symptoms and clinical features of ocular MMP.
- To identify factors influencing disease progression and visual acuity over time.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 88 patients diagnosed with ocular MMP.
- Data collected from patients seen at Emory Eye Center between 2012 and 2017.
Main Results:
- A significant proportion of patients presented with advanced disease stages.
- Common initial complications included fornix shortening and symblepharon.
- Clinical stabilization was typically achieved around 1 year post-presentation.
Conclusions:
- Ocular MMP is a severe condition often diagnosed late in tertiary care settings.
- It causes diverse eyelid and ocular surface complications.
- Disease stabilization and visual acuity improvement require a prolonged period.
