Purpose: To determine the profile of ophthalmic manifestations in chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (CIRD).
Methods: Observational study at the Yaounde Central Hospital and Innel Medical Centre (2004 to 2012).
Results: The study population (n = 36) consisted of 14 men and 22 women with average age of 47.9 ± 17.2 years. Cases of CIRD were rheumatoid arthritis (n = 16), systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 8), ankylosing spondylitis (n = 8), mixed connective tissue disease (n = 2), scleroderma (n = 1), and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (n = 1). Ophthalmic manifestations found in 22 (61.1%) patients were dry eye syndrome (n = 7), cataract (n = 6), anterior uveitis (n = 6), glaucoma (n = 4), and suspected maculopathy (n = 1). No association was found between steroids used and supcapsular cataract (p = 0.06) or glaucoma (p = 0.06).
Conclusion: Ocular manifestations occurred in 61.1% of CIRD. Dry eye syndrome and anterior uveitis were commonly observed.
Keywords: Africa; anterior uveitis; cataract; chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease; corticoid; dry eye syndrome; glaucoma; suspected maculopathy.