Ocular morbidity in patients with active systemic tuberculosis

Abstract

The ocular morbidity pattern in 2010 eyes of 1005 patients with active pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis was studied prospectively. A complete clinical (ocular and systemic) examination, radiologic evaluation, Mantoux test and sputum analysis for acid-fast bacilli were carried out in all patients. The ocular morbidity in patients in this study with active tuberculosis was 1.39%. The most common ocular finding was bilateral healed focal choroiditis (50%). No case of Eales' disease was found in this series. There was no statistically significant correlation between the ocular lesions and Mantoux positivity.