Ophthalmic Complications in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Authors

  • Marie-Lyne Bélair, MD, FRCSC Ophthalmology Department, University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec
  • Evangelina Esposito, MD, ChM Ophthalmology Department, University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58931/cibdt.2024.2232

Abstract

The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), estimated at 843 per 100,000 people (95% PI 828-859) (i.e., 0.843% of the population) in 2023 is increasing in Canada and is expected to reach 1.1% of the Canadian population by 2035. Consequently, extraintestinal manifestations and complications will also increase. Up to 50% of patients suffering from IBD will develop an extraintestinal manifestation (EIM) during the course of their disease, patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) being more often affected then those with ulcerative colitis (UC). Ocular manifestations are the third most common EIM after articular and dermatological involvements. Ocular complaints in patients with IBD can represent an EIM, a complication of systemic treatment or an unrelated affection. All patients presenting with a red eye, light sensitivity, loss of vision or any acute ocular symptom(s) should be promptly evaluated by an eye specialist. Early detection of ophthalmologic diseases and appropriate management require collaboration between specialists and are of utmost importance to avoid permanent visual loss. 

The most common ocular manifestations reported in IBD patients are episcleritis (2-5%) and anterior uveitis (0.5-3.5%). Other less common manifestations include scleritis, intermediate and posterior uveitis, retinal vasculitis, retinal vascular occlusions, orbital inflammatory syndrome, and optic neuritis. Ocular manifestations can also be associated with malabsorption syndromes encountered in some patients with IBD. Secondary vitamin A deficiency can result in night blindness and keratoconjunctivitis sicca. 

Author Biographies

Marie-Lyne Bélair, MD, FRCSC, Ophthalmology Department, University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec

Dr. Marie-Lyne Bélair completed her medical studies as well as her residency in ophthalmology at University of Montreal. She then completed a subspecialty in uveitis and ocular inflammatory diseases at the Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 2006, Dr. Bélair has practiced clinical and surgical ophthalmology at the University Ophthalmology Centre of Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital in Montreal. Dr. Bélair’s main interests are medical and surgical treatments of patients with uveitis. She has participated in many clinical trials evaluating new immunosuppressive treatments for severe non-infectious uveitis. She has also given many presentations to specialists outside the field of ophthalmology to increase collaboration in the care of patients with ophthalmic complications of systemic inflammatory diseases. 

Evangelina Esposito, MD, ChM, Ophthalmology Department, University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec

She graduated as a doctor from the National University of Córdoba, Argentina (2004- 2009), and completed her residency in Ophthalmology at the Catholic University of Córdoba, Argentina (2011-2014), followed by a year as Chief Resident. She completed a fellowship in ocular pathology and ocular oncology at McGill University, Montreal (2015-2017). She was awarded by the Argentine Council of Ophthalmology as a Distinguished Young Ophthalmologist in 2014 and by the McGill University Health Center Foundation with the Leonard Ellen Scholarship in Ocular Pathology in 2015. In 2019 she graduated with a master's degree in ophthalmology from the University of Edinburgh. Undergraduate and postgraduate professor at the Catholic University of Córdoba. She recently received the Besner-Valois scholarship to continue her studies at the University of Montreal. She is currently pursuing a diploma of specialized studies in Uveitis at the Maisonneuve Rosemont Hospital.

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Published

2024-09-11

How to Cite

1.
Bélair M-L, Esposito E. Ophthalmic Complications in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Can IBD Today [Internet]. 2024 Sep. 11 [cited 2024 Oct. 16];2(2):36–39. Available from: https://canadianibdtoday.com/article/view/2-2-Belair_et_al

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