Eyes and the heart: what a clinician should know

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Cardiology
• Systemic Diseases

Background:

• The eye can manifest signs of primary ocular or systemic diseases, including cardiovascular conditions.
• Systemic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders have distinct ocular presentations.
• Neuromuscular and connective tissue diseases also exhibit characteristic ocular and cardiac findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the intricate relationship between ocular and cardiovascular systems.
• To emphasize the diagnostic, prognostic, and management implications of this interplay.
• To explore the utility of conventional and novel diagnostic tools.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies examining ocular manifestations of cardiovascular diseases.
• Analysis of systemic diseases with known ocular and cardiac involvement.
• Discussion of diagnostic tools for assessing the eye-cardiovascular link.

Main Results:

• Hypertension and diabetes cause retinopathy; dyslipidemia presents with corneal arcus.
• Autoimmune diseases (Graves', rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis) manifest as proptosis, episcleritis, and scleritis.
• Myasthenia gravis, Marfan syndrome, Wilson's disease, and Fabry disease show specific ocular and cardiac associations.

Conclusions:

• Ocular assessment is crucial in cardiovascular examinations.
• Recognizing ocular signs aids in early diagnosis and management of systemic and cardiovascular diseases.
• Integrating advanced diagnostic tools can improve patient outcomes.