FP21

A clinical study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their ocular manifestations 

Study design:
Cross-sectional observational study.
Purpose:
To evaluate and identify ocular manifestations in patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods:
This study was conducted at the Departments of Ophthalmology and General Medicine, MGMMC & MY Hospital, Indore, over 12 months. Seventy-five RA patients meeting EULAR criteria underwent detailed ocular examinations including visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fundus examination, Schirmer’s test, and perimetry.
Results:
Common ocular findings included keratoconjunctivitis sicca, episcleritis, scleritis, and peripheral ulcerative keratitis. Ocular involvement was more frequent in patients with longer disease duration and severe RA.
Conclusion:
Early ophthalmologic screening in RA patients is essential for timely diagnosis and intervention, potentially preventing vision-threatening complications.