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%). Keratoconjunctivitis sicca was the most common ocular lesion. Other lesions were episcleritis, scleritis, marginal thinning of the cornea with keratolysis, stromal corneal opacities with peripheral vascularisation, and iridocyclitis. 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 examination as a routine in their protocol for patients with rheumatoid arthritis to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of ocular complications.