Ophthalmologic Manifestation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Review

Korean J Gastroenterol. 2019 May 25;73(5):269-275. doi: 10.4166/kjg.2019.73.5.269.

Abstract

In patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ocular extraintestinal manifestations (EIM) are less common than EIM of other systems, but they are clinically important because they can lead to complications that can cause catastrophic damage to the visual acuity and ocular structure. Anterior uveitis and episcleritis are the most common ocular EIM. Involvement of the orbit, posterior segment, and optic nerve can also occur. A variety of treatments are available ranging from topical steroids to systemic immunosuppressive therapies. The treatment of IBD is also essential if the activity of inflammatory bowel disease affects the ocular symptoms.

Keywords: Colitis, ulcerative; Crohn disease; Inflammatory bowel diseases; Ophthalmology; Uveitis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
  • Eye Diseases / complications
  • Eye Diseases / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / complications
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / pathology*
  • Retinal Diseases / complications
  • Retinal Diseases / pathology
  • Scleritis / complications
  • Scleritis / drug therapy
  • Scleritis / pathology
  • Steroids / therapeutic use
  • Uveitis, Anterior / complications
  • Uveitis, Anterior / drug therapy
  • Uveitis, Anterior / pathology

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Steroids