Laboratory diagnosis of ophthalmic sarcoidosis

Because the eye is involved in about 25% of patients with active sarcoid, the ophthalmologist is often the first physician to see these patients. Although clinical findings may suggest sarcoid, laboratory tests (e.g., x-ray, skin tests, blood chemistries, etc.) may be normal or inconclusive. Thus, it is important that the ophthalmologist be aware of the availability and limitations of the various biochemical, immunological, radiological, and histopathological tests that contribute to the early diagnosis of sarcoidosis. The authors review diagnostic procedures and present a flowchart detailing indications for each.