Key Concepts The masquerade syndromes comprise a group of disorders that mimic an ocular inflammatory disease but require specific treatment other than, or in addition to, anti-inflammatory therapy. Because many of the masquerade syndromes are malignancies or infectious processes, early…
Key Concepts Serpiginous choroiditis is a rare, clinically defined disorder characterized by a geographic pattern of choroiditis that typically extends from the juxtapapillary area and spreads centrifugally over time. The disease often involves both eyes and can cause irreversible retinal…
Key Concepts Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease that can affect almost every organ in the body in people of all racial and ethnic groups. The cause of sarcoidosis remains unknown, but a number of studies have elucidated the immunologic…
Key Concepts Diagnosis is based on the anatomic location of ocular inflammation: vitreous and peripheral retina with macular edema. Intermediate uveitis is frequently associated with a systemic or infectious disease. Pars planitis is a subtype of intermediate uveitis. Complications include…
Key Concepts Scleritis is a painful and potentially sight-threatening inflammation of the sclera and is associated with immune or infectious causes. Treatment often requires systemic anti-inflammatory therapy, including corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs. Biologic agents, including the anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α…
Key Concepts Anterior uveitis is the most common form of uveitis, with an annual incidence of 8:100,000 population, and is the least likely to be referred to a uveitis specialist. Although anterior uveitis is usually the most easily managed form,…
Key Concepts Toxocariasis is a zoonotic infection caused by the roundworms Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati. Although ocular toxocariasis is relatively uncommon, it mostly affects young children and frequently causes permanent vision loss, including blindness. The diagnosis is predominantly based…
Key Concepts Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common cause of inflammatory eye disease. Keratitis and anterior uveitis are frequent manifestations of HSV disease; secondary glaucoma is an important cause of vision loss. A number of randomized controlled trials have…
Key Concepts Despite effective antiviral therapies, herpes infection of the eye can lead to severe uveitis with substantial vision loss. Because acute retinal necrosis (ARN) can often begin as anterior uveitis, examination of the peripheral retina is important in all…
Key Concepts Despite efforts at disease prevention, in 2017, the annual number of diagnoses of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the United States was 11.8 per 100,000 population, and HIV infection remains a global epidemic. Vasculopathy with cotton-wool spots…