Sarcoidosisis a disease that causes small masses of tissue clumps, calledgranulomas, to form inside the body.
These granulomas can lead to damaged or malfunctioning organs in the body and frequently involve the eyes.
Verywell / Hugo Lin
Ocular Sarcoidosis Symptoms
It’s very common for sarcoidosis to affect the eyes.
Verywell / Hugo Lin
Between 25% to 80% of sarcoidosis patients have symptoms that affect the eyes at some point.
Causes
Sarcoidosisis a disease that may affect many body organs but mainly the lungs.
The condition usually occurs in adults 20 to 40 years of age.
Some people developuveitisas a complication of sarcoidosis.
Uveitis is an inflammation of theuvea, or blood-rich membranes in the eye.
The uvea is in the center of the eye, between the sclera and theretina.
In uveitis, white blood cells rush to the front of the eye and make the eye very sticky.
This stickiness can cause internal structures, like the iris and lens, to stick together.
This can result in increased eye pressure.
Patients may complain of pain in their eye, redness, and mild to extreme light sensitivity.
Although rare, blindness may occur if the uveitis is left untreated.
Diagnosis
An ophthalmologist will examine the front part of your eye with a lighted microscope.
They will dilate your pupils withdilating dropsto see the back of the eyes.
The doctor will look for any signs of inflammation.
Since dry eyes are common with sarcoidosis,they will evaluate the tear-producing lacrimal glands using theSchirmer test.
Treatment
Sarcoidosis eye treatment depends on the area of the eye affected.
Proper monitoring and treatment can slow or prevent permanent damage.
Sarcoidosis patients should see an eye doctor at least once per year to check for complications.
A Word From Verywell
Sarcoidosis most often affects the lungs, lymph nodes, and liver.
Frequently Asked Questions
It may.
The inflammation resulting from ocular sarcoidosis can lead to severe vision impairment and blindness.
Common symptoms include:
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