Abstract
Extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease occur in one third of patients. Ocular complications are infrequent, occurring in less than 10 % of cases, but can be associated with significant morbidity.
Ocular complaints are often nonspecific and include watery, burning or itchy eyes, ocular pain, photophobia, conjunctival or scleral hyperemia, decrease of visual acuity. Ocular inflammation often affects episclera – episcleritis, next scleritis and uveitis can be diagnosed.
Eye investigation should be a routine part in the care of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Ocular symptoms may rarely precede a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease; in most cases they appear together with active bowel inflammation.
It is important to inform the patients with idiopathic bowel disease about a risk of eye complications.