PURPOSE: To evaluate the ophthalmological alterations in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze 70 patients with diagnosis of SLE based on the American College of Rheumatology criteria. Data regarding sex, age, ethnicity, duration of disease, disease activity, use of corticosteroids and antimalarial drugs, and presence of ophthalmological symptoms were recorded and a full ophthalmic examination was carried out. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients (88.6%) were females, 43 patients (61.4%) were white. Mean age was 43.9 years, 57 patients (81.4%) presented no sign of active disease and 46 patients (65.7%) had no ophthalmological complaints. Dry eye syndrome was diagnosed in 22 patients (31.4%), bilateral subcapsular cataract in 15 patients (21.1%) and glaucoma in 2 patients (2.9%). Fundoscopic evaluation disclosed 8 patients (11.4%) with drusen, 7 (10.0%) with RPE atrophy, 2 patients (2.9%) presented pathological disc excavation, 2 (2.9%) vascular tortuosity and arteriovenous crossing changes, 1 patient (1.4%) had macular chorioretinitis scar and 1 patient (1.4%) had branch retinal vein occlusion. CONCLUSION: SLE is a disease that can present with ophthalmic involvement, usually benign in outpatients. Dry eye and cataract are the commonest ocular findings. The former seems to be more related to SLE itself while the latter probably relates to the chronic use of corticosteroids for the disease treatment. Antimalarial drugs do not frequently cause ophthalmic lesions, although further studies must be conducted in order to assess their impact on patients' long-term visual quality. In the patients with the disease under control, ocular damage is more related to systemic treatment what enhances the need for ophthalmological examination as a routine even in these patients.
Lupus erythematosus, systemic; Keratoconjunctivitis sicca; Antimalarials; Adrenal cortex hormones; Cataract
