Ocular Manifestations of Buerger's Disease - A Review of Current Knowledge

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Vascular Medicine
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans) is a rare inflammatory vascular condition affecting small and medium-sized arteries and veins, primarily in the limbs.
• Ocular manifestations of Buerger's disease are not well-documented, with a lack of comprehensive reviews on the subject.
• Understanding potential eye involvement is crucial for early diagnosis and management of Buerger's disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize current knowledge regarding ocular manifestations associated with Buerger's disease.
• To identify specific eye conditions linked to thromboangiitis obliterans.
• To raise awareness among clinicians about the potential for eye complications in Buerger's disease.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted using Medline and Web of Science databases.
• No time or language restrictions were applied to the database search.
• Thirteen relevant articles describing ocular involvement in thromboangiitis obliterans were reviewed.

Main Results:

• Patients with Buerger's disease may experience various ocular conditions, including non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), retinal vasculitis, central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), and others.
• Other potential findings include normal tension glaucoma (NTG), uveitis, chorioretinal atrophy, retinitis, papillitis, optic atrophy, and hypertensive retinopathy-like changes.
• Abnormalities in electroretinography (ERG) may also be present in affected individuals.

Conclusions:

• Ocular manifestations in Buerger's disease are diverse and can significantly impact vision.
• Treatment strategies and patient outcomes vary widely depending on the specific eye condition.
• Increased clinical awareness is necessary to ensure timely diagnosis and management of ocular complications in Buerger's disease.