Prevalence of ocular manifestations in systemic sclerosis patients.
BACKGROUND
Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma, SSc) is a severe chronic connective tissue disease caused by immune system disorders and changes in the structure and functions of blood vessels, which consequently leads to enhanced tissue fibrosis. The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in the organ of vision in systemic sclerosis patients.


METHODS
Overall the study involved 27 patients with systemic sclerosis. The control group comprised 27 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals. All the study subjects underwent complete ophthalmological examination that in systemic sclerosis patients additionally involved fluorescein angiography.


RESULTS
OPHTHALMOLOGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED HIGHER INCIDENCE OF THE FOLLOWING ABNORMALITIES IN THE STUDY GROUP, COMPARED TO THE CONTROL: symptoms of dry eye syndrome (19 eyes, p < 0.02), astigmatism(in 30 eyes, p < 0.01), posterior subcapsular cataract (10 eyes, p < 0.05), increased intraocular pressure (> 21 mm Hg were observed in 11 eyes, p < 0.002) and vascular abnormalities within fundus in fluorescein angiography (20 eyes).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with systemic sclerosis numerous abnormalities within the vision of organ may be found. Regular ophthalmological examinations are essential among the mentioned group. The examination should be particularly focused on the presence of retinal vascular abnormalities.
Institute of Eye Disease Diagnostics, 2 Department of Eye Diseases, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Arleta
A
Waszczykowska
Institute of Ophthalmology and Vision Rehabilitation, 2 Department of Eye Diseases, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Roman
R
Goś
Institute of Immunodermatology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Elżbieta
E
Waszczykowska
Institute of Immunodermatology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Bożena
B
Dziankowska-Bartkowiak
Institute of Eye Disease Diagnostics, 2 Department of Eye Diseases, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Piotr
P
Jurowski
eye complications; retinal changes; scleroderma