The spectrum of ocular involvement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus without ocular symptoms

The aim of the study was to determine the spectrum of clinical ocular invol vement in patients with inactive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who hav e no ocular symptoms. Patients with a diagnosis of SLE based on the 1982 re vised American College of Rheumatology criteria and with no ocular complain ts were recruited from the SLE clinic. Clinical data regarding their system ic disease and disease activity were recorded and a full ophthalmic examina tion carried out. 52 patients of mixed ethnicity comprising of 75% Chinese, 19% Malays and 6% Indian patients were recruited. Of these, 51 (98%) were female with a mean age of 34 +/- 11 (range 16-74 y). 16 (31%) patients had dry eyes while cor ticosteroid induced glaucoma anti cataract was detected in 1 (2%) and 7 (14 %) patients, respectively. No patients were found to have sight-threatening ocular conditions such as cotton wool spots, vasculitis, optic neuropathy or uveitis. Patients with clinically inactive disease were found not to have sight-thre atening ocular diseases that are known to be associated with SLE. Although they have no ocular complaints, nearly one-third of these patients have dry eyes. Ocular examination may be unnecessary when the disease is clinically inactive and in the absence of ocular symptoms.