[Eye disease in cases of chronic atrophic polychondritis (author's transl)]

Four patients with relapsing polychondritis and eye disease were observed. Diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical symptoms of multifocal chondritis and episcleritis in one case. In the latter patient the disease started with slight visual impairment due to retinal hemorrhage and edema. Despite a relapsing course all patients eventually responded well to topical and systemic corticosteroids. Immunopathologic events are discussed.