Systemic Vasculitis and Its Association with the Eye

Abstract

Vasculitis are a group of diseases characterize by the inflammation of the blood vessel walls. They are classified according to the size of the main vessel involved: in large vessel, medium vessel, and small vessel vasculitis. Ophthalmic manifestations are quite common in most of these diseases. Being episcleritis and scleritis the most prevalent manifestation of vasculitis. However, there are certain ocular diseases especially characteristic of specific vasculitis entities. Given the severity and potential life-threat of these diseases, knowledge of the ocular manifestations is mandatory for the ophthalmologists.