Ocular symptoms are not predictive of ophthalmologic inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease

BackgroundOcular manifestations are frequent in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.AimTo evaluate for the first time the value of ocular symptoms in predicting ophthalmologic inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease.MethodsAll consecutive inflammatory bowel disease patients seen in the Department of Gastroenterology (Nancy, University Hospital, France) between April 2009 and July 2011 were interviewed for this cross-sectional study using a pre-established questionnaire. If the patient had at least one ocular symptom, he systematically underwent an ophthalmologic examination (visual acuity, Break-Up Time test, Schirmer Test, slit-lamp exam with fundus examination).ResultsThis cross-sectional survey was completed by 305 patients: 169 were women (55.2%), 228 had Crohn's disease (74.5%). Ninety-eight patients (32%) reported at least one ocular symptom: ocular irritation (56.8%), red eye (40.5%), blurred vision (37.8%), progressive visual loss (34.4%), ocular pain (31.1%), myodesopsia (23.3%), eyelid secretion (12.2%), dry eye (9.5%), watering (6.8%), diplopia (5.4%), metamorphopsia (4%), and sudden visual loss (4%). Following ophthalmologic examination (n = 74), 41.9% patients had evidence of dry eye (n = 31), 14.9% blepharitis (n = 11) and 1.4% scleritis (n = 1). No uveitis was reported.ConclusionOcular symptoms are frequent in inflammatory bowel disease, but are non-specific and rarely associated with ocular inflammation. Systematic ocular symptoms assessment is of poor value for diagnosing ocular inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease.