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Sympathetic ophthalmia
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Sympathetic ophthalmia is an extremely rare, bilateral, granulomatous panoveitis that develops after a penetrating injury complicated by prolapse of the choroid, or after iptraocular operations (less often). The injured eye is called sympathetic, and a healthy eye, in which uveitis is also developing, is called sympathetic.
Sympathetic ophthalmia is manifested in 65% of cases - from 2 weeks to 3 months after the initial injury; in 90% of cases - during the first year.
[Symptoms of sympathetic ophthalmia
- The sympathetic eye has signs of primary trauma, often hyperemic and irritated.
- The sympathetic eye is characterized by photophobia and irritation.
- Then in both eyes develops a chronic granulomatous anterior uveitis with nodules on the iris and fatty precipitates on the cornea.
- The edema of the optic nerve disk and the multifocal choroiditis develop throughout the eye fundus.
Sympathetic ophthalmia
Rarely, uveitis occurs in mild form but in a self-limiting process. Usually intraocular inflammation is chronic and in the absence of adequate treatment leads to the development of cataracts, glaucoma and death of the eye.
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Treatment of sympathetic ophthalmia
Treatment of sympathetic ophthalmia with systemic steroids is usually effective. And the long-range vision prognosis is good. Immunosuppressive agents are also indicated and contribute to a reduction in the dose of steroids.