Uveitis (inflammation inside the eyes) is the most serious manifestation of ocular sarcoidosis, or sarcoidosis in the eyes. Uveitis causes eye pain, redness, and vision loss and must be treated immediately with steroids by an ophthalmologist.
In this article, you’ll learn what to expect with ocular sarcoidosis, including the symptoms, diagnosis, causes, and treatment for the condition.
Ocular Sarcoidosis Symptoms
It’s very common for sarcoidosis to affect the eyes. Between 25% to 80% of sarcoidosis patients have symptoms that affect the eyes at some point.
Depending on where the inflammation occurs within the eye, the following symptoms may develop:
Dry eyesItchy, burning eyesRed and sometimes painful eyesBlurred visionSeeing black spots or stringsSensitivity to lightReduced color vision
People with sarcoidosis may also have small, pale yellow bumps on the eye.
Causes
Sarcoidosis is 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 develop uveitis as a complication of sarcoidosis. Uveitis is an inflammation of the uvea, or blood-rich membranes in the eye. The uvea is in the center of the eye, between the sclera and the retina.
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 with dilating drops to 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 the Schirmer test. The Schirmer test uses blotting paper to measure the moisture (tears) produced by the lacrimal gland in the lower eyelid.
Treatment
Sarcoidosis eye treatment depends on the area of the eye affected. Your ophthalmologist may prescribe:
Anti-inflammatory eye drops to reduce inflammationDilating drops to prevent adhesion of the iris to the lensArtificial tears to treat the drying of the lacrimal glandsCorticosteroid treatment (tablets taken orally) can be effective in stubborn cases
Coping
Since eye problems are common with sarcoidosis, it is important to detect them early. 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. But it can also cause problems with the eyes, spleen, brain, nerves, heart, tear glands, salivary glands, sinuses, bones, and joints.
If you’re diagnosed with sarcoidosis, plan to have an annual comprehensive eye examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist for the first few years after diagnosis.
It can also cause increased pressure within the eye and lead to glaucoma, which can result in partial or complete blindness.
They may use a tissue biopsy and look for signs of uveitis as part of the diagnosis. A slit-lamp exam can be used to look deeper into your eyes.
Redness in the eyesEye painLight sensitivityBlurry vision Eye floaters
