OCULAR COMPLICATIONS OF ADULT RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

In a prospective study of 325 patients with adult rheumatoid arthritis , ocular complications were seen in 73 patients (22.4%). Keratoconjunc tivitis sicca was the most common ocular lesion. Other lesions were ep iscleritis, scleritis, marginal thinning of the cornea with keratolysi s, stromal corneal opacities with peripheral vascularisation, and irid ocyclitis. The mean duration of the arthritis and the mean duration of seropositivity were found to be significantly higher in patients with ocular complications. Physicians should include ophthalmic examinatio n as a routine in their protocol for patients with rheumatoid arthriti s to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of ocular complications.