[Ocular manifestations of Crohn's disease]

The objectives of our study were to describe the ocular manifestations of Crohn's disease and to identify risk factors for ocular involvement.

We prospectively collected 71 cases of Crohn's disease. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination. Two groups were identified according to the presence (group 1) or not (group 2) of ocular involvement related to Crohn's disease. Various parameters were compared between the 2 groups.

The average age was 38±12 years. The M/F gender ratio was 1.7. Group 1 included 27 patients (38%). Among the ocular manifestations observed, we noted anterior uveitis in 10 cases (37%), scleritis in 2 cases (7.4%), episcleritis in 8 cases (29.6%), dry eye syndrome in 7 cases (25.9%), corneal infiltrates in 7 cases (25.9%), lid ulcer in one patient (3.7%), vein occlusion with capillary leakage in two patients (7.4%) and a serous retinal detachment in one patient (3.7%). Conjunctivitis was considered a coincidental ocular finding; it was seen in 8 cases (15 eyes). Colonic or ileocolic localisation and the activity of the bowel disease were identified as independent risk factors for ocular involvement in Crohn's disease (the adjusted odds ratios were 5.21 and 6.8, respectively).

Ocular manifestations of Crohn's disease are polymorphic. Colonic or ileocolic localisation, as well as the activity of the bowel disease, have been identified as risk factors for ocular involvement.