Occlusive retinal vascular disease in systemic lupus erythematosus

Ocular involvement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is most commonly noted in the form of retinal hemorrhage, exudates and cotton wool spots resulting from occlusion of small retinal blood vessels. Less frequently, SLE is associated with extensive obliteration of larger retinal vessels, as demonstrated in the 2 cases reported here. In both cases large parts of the retina lost their function due to extensive occlusions of retinal arteries and veins. Marked retinal neovascularizations developed in one of the 2 cases. Awareness and early detection of retinal vascular occlusive disease and its complications are important in averting serious visual loss in SLE.