[Ocular involvement in rheumatoid arthritis, connective tissue diseases and vasculitis]

Abstract

There are many interfaces between ophthalmologists and rheumatologists. On the one hand ophthalmologists face the question if an inflammation of the eye is caused by systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases and on the other hand rheumatologists have to consider that ocular manifestations are relatively common in some inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Furthermore, these ocular manifestations may influence therapeutic decisions of the rheumatologist. This article summarizes which ocular inflammations can be associated with rheumatoid arthritis, connective tissue diseases and vasculitides. The description of acute anterior uveitis in spondyloarthritis and in juvenile idiopathic arthritis is omitted in this article but will be dealt with elsewhere in this issue.

Keywords: Ocular inflammation; Ophthalmologist; Rheumatologist; Systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases; Uveitis.