Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentCopingFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping
Frequently Asked Questions
Sarcoidosisis a disease that causes small masses of tissue clumps, calledgranulomas, to form inside the body. These granulomas can lead to damaged or malfunctioning organs in the body and frequently involve the eyes.
In this article, you’ll learn what to expect with ocular sarcoidosis, including the symptoms, diagnosis, causes, and treatment for the condition.
Verywell / Hugo Lin
Ocular Sarcoidosis Symptoms
It’s very common for sarcoidosis to affect the eyes. Between 25% to 80% of sarcoidosis patients have symptoms that affect the eyes at some point.
Depending on where the inflammation occurs within the eye, the following symptoms may develop:
People with sarcoidosis may also have small, pale yellow bumps on the eye.
Sarcoidosisis a disease that may affect many body organs but mainly the lungs. The condition usually occurs in adults 20 to 40 years of age.
Some people developuveitisas a complication of sarcoidosis. Uveitis is an inflammation of theuvea, or blood-rich membranes in the eye. The uvea is in the center of the eye, between the sclera and theretina.
In uveitis, white blood cells rush to the front of the eye and make the eye very sticky. This stickiness can cause internal structures, like the iris and lens, to stick together. This can result in increased eye pressure.
Patients may complain of pain in their eye, redness, and mild to extreme light sensitivity. Although rare, blindness may occur if the uveitis is left untreated.
An ophthalmologist will examine the front part of your eye with a lighted microscope. They will dilate your pupils withdilating dropsto see the back of the eyes. The doctor will look for any signs of inflammation.
Sarcoidosis eye treatment depends on the area of the eye affected. Your ophthalmologist may prescribe:
Since eye problems are common with sarcoidosis, it is important to detect them early. Proper monitoring and treatment can slow or prevent permanent damage. Sarcoidosis patients should see an eye doctor at least once per year to check for complications.
A Word From Verywell
Sarcoidosis most often affects the lungs, lymph nodes, and liver. But it can also cause problems with the eyes, spleen, brain, nerves, heart, tear glands, salivary glands, sinuses, bones, and joints.
It can also cause increased pressure within the eye and lead to glaucoma, which can result in partial or complete blindness.
Learn MoreCommon Causes of Vision Loss
First, your healthcare provider will use your medical history and physical exam to rule out other causes for your symptoms.They may use a tissue biopsy and look for signs of uveitis as part of the diagnosis.A slit-lamp exam can be used to look deeper into your eyes.Learn MoreWhat Is a Slit-Lamp Exam?
First, your healthcare provider will use your medical history and physical exam to rule out other causes for your symptoms.They may use a tissue biopsy and look for signs of uveitis as part of the diagnosis.A slit-lamp exam can be used to look deeper into your eyes.
First, your healthcare provider will use your medical history and physical exam to rule out other causes for your symptoms.
They may use a tissue biopsy and look for signs of uveitis as part of the diagnosis.A slit-lamp exam can be used to look deeper into your eyes.
Learn MoreWhat Is a Slit-Lamp Exam?
Common symptoms include:Redness in the eyesEye painLight sensitivityBlurry visionEye floatersLearn MoreCommon Eye Problems: Causes and Treatment
Common symptoms include:Redness in the eyesEye painLight sensitivityBlurry visionEye floaters
Common symptoms include:
Learn MoreCommon Eye Problems: Causes and Treatment
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Matsou A, Tsaousis K.Management of chronic ocular sarcoidosis: challenges and solutions.Clinical Ophthalmology. 2018;Volume 12:519-532. doi:10.2147/opth.s128949Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research.Sarcoidosis causes and risk factors.Pasadhika S, Rosenbaum J.Ocular Sarcoidosis.Clin Chest Med. 2015;36(4):669-683. doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2015.08.009American Academy of Ophthalmology.Ocular manifestations of sarcoidosis.Pasadhika S, Rosenbaum JT.Ocular sarcoidosis.Clinics in chest medicine. 2015;36(4):669. doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2015.08.009Yang S, Salek S, Rosenbaum JT.Ocular Sarcoidosis: new diagnostic modalities and treatment.Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2017;23(5):458-467. doi:10.1097/MCP.0000000000000409
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Matsou A, Tsaousis K.Management of chronic ocular sarcoidosis: challenges and solutions.Clinical Ophthalmology. 2018;Volume 12:519-532. doi:10.2147/opth.s128949Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research.Sarcoidosis causes and risk factors.Pasadhika S, Rosenbaum J.Ocular Sarcoidosis.Clin Chest Med. 2015;36(4):669-683. doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2015.08.009American Academy of Ophthalmology.Ocular manifestations of sarcoidosis.Pasadhika S, Rosenbaum JT.Ocular sarcoidosis.Clinics in chest medicine. 2015;36(4):669. doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2015.08.009Yang S, Salek S, Rosenbaum JT.Ocular Sarcoidosis: new diagnostic modalities and treatment.Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2017;23(5):458-467. doi:10.1097/MCP.0000000000000409
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Matsou A, Tsaousis K.Management of chronic ocular sarcoidosis: challenges and solutions.Clinical Ophthalmology. 2018;Volume 12:519-532. doi:10.2147/opth.s128949Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research.Sarcoidosis causes and risk factors.Pasadhika S, Rosenbaum J.Ocular Sarcoidosis.Clin Chest Med. 2015;36(4):669-683. doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2015.08.009American Academy of Ophthalmology.Ocular manifestations of sarcoidosis.Pasadhika S, Rosenbaum JT.Ocular sarcoidosis.Clinics in chest medicine. 2015;36(4):669. doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2015.08.009Yang S, Salek S, Rosenbaum JT.Ocular Sarcoidosis: new diagnostic modalities and treatment.Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2017;23(5):458-467. doi:10.1097/MCP.0000000000000409
Matsou A, Tsaousis K.Management of chronic ocular sarcoidosis: challenges and solutions.Clinical Ophthalmology. 2018;Volume 12:519-532. doi:10.2147/opth.s128949
Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research.Sarcoidosis causes and risk factors.
Pasadhika S, Rosenbaum J.Ocular Sarcoidosis.Clin Chest Med. 2015;36(4):669-683. doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2015.08.009
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Ocular manifestations of sarcoidosis.
Pasadhika S, Rosenbaum JT.Ocular sarcoidosis.Clinics in chest medicine. 2015;36(4):669. doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2015.08.009
Yang S, Salek S, Rosenbaum JT.Ocular Sarcoidosis: new diagnostic modalities and treatment.Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2017;23(5):458-467. doi:10.1097/MCP.0000000000000409
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