The eye as a common site for the early clinical manifestation of sarcoidosis.

AIMS: Our purpose was to detect the rate of initial manifestation of sarcoidosis in the eye. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review in a sarcoidosis clinic in Germany. Ophthalmological data were obtained by using a standardized protocol, including the medical history, any comorbidity, onset and type of ocular manifestation that was evaluated by slit lamp, tonometry and fundoscopy. RESULTS: In the cohort of 1,800 patients (mean age 38.1 ± 11.8 years), diagnosis of sarcoidosis was established most commonly by bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy (96.2%), histopathology (46.9%) or other organ manifestations. The initial clinical presentation of sarcoidosis (mean age 34.1 ± 10.8 years) had often been eye manifestation (21.2%). Within this group, anterior uveitis was most common (76.4%), followed by intermediate (17.3%) and posterior uveitis (4.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The eye is commonly the first site for manifestation of sarcoidosis. Ophthalmologists have a critical role in establishing the diagnosis of sarcoidosis.

Long-term reduction of laser flare values after trabeculectomy but not after cyclodestructive procedures in uveitis patients.

The aim of this study was to examine long-term changes of laser flare (LF) after trabeculectomy (TE) and transscleral diode cyclophotocoagulation (TDCPC) in patients with uveitic secondary glaucoma. Retrospective, single-center analysis. Overall, 40 TE (mean follow-up 21.1 months) and 68 TDCPC (mean follow-up 21.8 months, P = 0.38) procedures were performed. The intraocular pressure (IOP) level was consistently lower in the TE group at the preoperative visit and at each follow-up visit, while IOP reduction was similar in both groups (P = 0.91). LF decreased from 59.4 photons/ms at baseline to 41.9 photons/ms in the TE group (P = 0.017) and remained unchanged in the TDCPC group (71.2 vs. 70.7 photons/ms, P = 0.84). No significant increase in the number of complications could be observed at the end of the postoperative follow-up, while best-corrected visual acuity drop and cataract formation was higher in the TE group. TE significantly reduced postoperative LF values. Higher LF values did not increase the development of new complications in this study, but an increased occurrence of cataract formation was seen in the TE group.