Connective tissue disorders and eye: A review and recent updates

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology and Ophthalmology
• Connective Tissue Diseases (CTDs)
• Autoimmune and Heritable Disorders

Background:

• Collagen vascular disorders (CVDs), now termed connective tissue diseases (CTDs), affect multiple organ systems, notably cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal.
• Ocular involvement is frequent in CTDs and can precede systemic symptoms, acting as a crucial diagnostic marker.
• Accurate diagnosis of CTDs is vital for managing potential end-organ damage and associated complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify common ophthalmic presentations across diverse autoimmune and heritable CTDs.
• To differentiate CTD-related eye conditions from overlapping diseases.
• To discuss the prognosis, management strategies, and impact on ophthalmic surgeries for these ocular manifestations.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of publications up to January 25, 2022.
• Searched multiple databases using relevant keywords for ocular features in CTDs.
• Analyzed original articles, review articles, and case reports detailing eye involvement in CTDs.

Main Results:

• Ocular manifestations are significant indicators in the diagnosis of various connective tissue diseases.
• The review synthesizes information on the varied eye presentations associated with autoimmune and heritable CTDs.
• Understanding these ophthalmic features is crucial for timely intervention and patient management.

Conclusions:

• Ophthalmic presentations are key diagnostic clues for connective tissue diseases (CTDs).
• Distinguishing CTD-related eye conditions and understanding their management is essential for patient outcomes.
• Further research into the impact of CTDs on ophthalmic surgeries is warranted.