Ophthalmic Manifestations in Chronic Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases at a Referral Hospital of Yaounde, Cameroon.

Purpose: To determine the profile of ophthalmic manifestations in chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (CIRD).

Methods: Observational study at the Yaounde Central Hospital and Innel Medical Centre (2004 to 2012).

Results: The study population (n = 36) consisted of 14 men and 22 women with average age of 47.9 ± 17.2 years. Cases of CIRD were rheumatoid arthritis (n = 16), systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 8), ankylosing spondylitis (n = 8), mixed connective tissue disease (n = 2), scleroderma (n = 1), and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (n = 1). Ophthalmic manifestations found in 22 (61.1%) patients were dry eye syndrome (n = 7), cataract (n = 6), anterior uveitis (n = 6), glaucoma (n = 4), and suspected maculopathy (n = 1). No association was found between steroids used and supcapsular cataract (p = 0.06) or glaucoma (p = 0.06).

Conclusion: Ocular manifestations occurred in 61.1% of CIRD. Dry eye syndrome and anterior uveitis were commonly observed.