J Korean Med Sci.  2009 Jun;24(3):413-419. 10.3346/jkms.2009.24.3.413.

Ocular Sarcoidosis in a Korean Population

• Lee SY
• Lee HG
• Kim DS
• Kim JG
• Chung H
• Yoon YH

• KMID: 1779156
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2009.24.3.413

Abstract

The aim of current study was to evaluate the incidence and characteristics of ocular sarcoidosis in a Korean population. We conducted a retrospective study of 104 consecutive patients with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis seen at Asan Medical Center in Seoul, Korea, from 1993 to 2007. Medical records, photographs, and fluorescein angiograms were reviewed. Of 104 patients, 22 (21%) had intraocular involvement with female predominance (86%, M:F=3:19). Of the 39 eyes with ocular involvement, 16 (41%) eyes had isolated anterior uveitis, 12 (31%) eyes had intermediate uveitis, 6 eyes (15%) had panuveitis with retinal vasculitis, and 5 (13%) eyes had panuveitis with punched multifocal choroiditis. Mean duration of ophthalmologic follow-up was 62 months. All ocular inflammation was well managed with topical steroid and/or systemic steroid with relatively good final visual outcomes. Ocular complications such as cataract (12 eyes, 30%), glaucoma (6 eyes, 15%), vitreous opacity (1 eye, 3%), cystoid macular edema (3 eyes, 7%), neovascularization (2 eye, 5%), and epiretinal membrane (4 eye, 10%) were related to ocular sarcoidosis. In Korea, where sarcoidosis is very rare, our study indicates relatively low ocular and predominantly non posterior segment involvement with relatively good visual prognosis.

Keyword

Korean; Ocular Sarcoidosis; Sarcoidosis; Uveitis

MeSH Terms

Adult
Age Factors
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Choroiditis/diagnosis
Eye Diseases/*diagnosis/epidemiology/therapy
Female
Fluorescein Angiography
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Retinal Vasculitis/diagnosis
Retrospective Studies
Sarcoidosis/*diagnosis/epidemiology/therapy
Steroids/therapeutic use
Uveitis, Anterior/diagnosis
Uveitis, Intermediate/diagnosis

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Comparision of age among four ordered types of uveitis. While anterior or intermediate uveitis tend to occur in younger age group, all 3 patients (5 eyes) showing 'panuveitis with punched multifocal choroiditis' were over 55 yr old.

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  Fig. 2 Patient No. 17. Fundus photographs (A, B) show retinal vasculitis and multiple depigmented peripheral lesions. Fluorescence angiography (FAG) (C, D) shows late fluorescein leakage from retinal vessels with adjacent capillary nonperfusion.

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  Fig. 3 Patient No. 21. Fundus photographs show subacute multifocal choroiditis with accompanying vitreous opacity at initial presentation (A, B) and residual choroiditis accompanying atrophic change at one month later (C, D). Fluorescence angiography of right inferonasal aspect and left posterior pole of retina at one month later from initial presentation (E, F) show atrophic choroidal changes.

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