Ocular manifestations in renal allograft recipients: An Indian perspective

The aim of this study was to report the ocular findings in renal allograft recipients in India.

A cross-sectional, comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation was performed, at least three months postrenal transplant, in 152 renal allograft recipients for the ocular findings. In addition, ocular findings were assessed for an association with the clinical variables like major etiologies of end-stage renal disease, pre-transplant dialysis duration, post-transplant duration, and dosage of immunosuppressive drugs.

72.36% of the recipients (mean age, 38.16 ± 10.04 years) had at least one ocular finding at 3 ± 2.6 years (range, 0.3-14 years), postrenal transplant. Hypertensive retinopathy was the commonest ocular finding followed by posterior subcapsular cataract (20.4%), nuclear sclerosis (19.7%), diabetic retinopathy (15.1%), dry eye (11.2%), allergic conjunctivitis (9.9%), pterygium (6.6%), open-angle glaucoma (3.3%), meibomitis (3.3%), pinguicula (2.6%), chalazion (1.3%), subconjunctival haemorrhage (1.7%), central serous chorioretinopathy (1.7%), healed ocular toxoplasmosis (1.7%), papilledema (1.7%), and dry ARMD (1.7%). In addition, a significant association existed between some of the ocular findings with major aetiologies of ESRD, post-transplant duration, and dosage of immunosuppressive drugs. However, no association existed between the ocular findings and pre-transplant dialysis duration.

Ocular findings are seen in 72.36% of the renal transplant recipients with hypertensive retinopathy being the commonest one. Hence, a mandatory regular ophthalmic screening of the recipients is recommended for an early detection and timely intervention to improve the quality of life.