Ocular Manifestations in Hematological Disorders

Background Ophthalmic manifestations are a common feature in hematological malignancies and may be divided into two groups: those attributable to the disease's infiltration of the eye, and the ocular consequences due to blood abnormalities. This study aims to determine the prevalence of ocular manifestations and their association with the different hematological disease subgroups. Materials and methods We conducted a retrospective and observational study enrolling 137 consecutive patients on active treatment or follow-up for hematological malignancies from January 2016 to January 2020 at the Cheikh Khalifa International University Hospital. All patients underwent a standardized and comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation. Results Ocular involvement was primarily disclosed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and multiple myeloma (MM). We herein report the different ocular changes divided into anterior segment manifestations, posterior segment manifestations, dry eye disease, and ocular adnexa findings. Patients with leukemia had a significantly higher rate of lesions in the ocular posterior segment (p < 0.001). Despite the high prevalence of anterior segment and ocular adnexa findings in lymphoma patients, no significant association emerged between these lesions and the aforementioned condition. In addition, dry eye disease was found in all instances without any association with the disease itself. Conclusions Awareness of ocular pathology in hematological malignancies is important as it may precede systemic diagnosis or be a sign of recurrence. We should also be concerned about the side effects of treatments, predominantly, dry eye disease. Therefore, periodic ophthalmic assessment throughout the disease's course, as well as interdisciplinary coordination of care, is crucial to promote early diagnosis and treatment, hence improving long-term outcomes.