Chronic diseases and vision problems

The general health of the body has a direct impact on the eyes. If a patient has a chronic illness that is untreated or poorly managed, it can negatively affect their vision. Even with proper treatment, some chronic conditions may still lead to long-term changes in the structure or function of the eye.

Diseases that can affect eye health

Diabetes

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most common and serious complications of chronic diabetes. The condition leads to damage of the blood vessels in the retina. The extent of the changes depends on the duration of the disease and the type of diabetes.

Arterial hypertension

Hypertensive retinopathy is an eye condition directly related to elevated blood pressure. It leads to changes in the blood vessels of the retina. The condition develops gradually over many years and often presents no noticeable symptoms in its early stages. However, the consequences can be serious and may even result in vision loss.

Inflammatory skin conditions: psoriasis, atopic dermatitis (AD), rosacea

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with an immunological basis. It occurs when the body’s immune system triggers an accelerated growth of skin cells, which then accumulate excessively on the surface of the skin, forming thick, scaly patches. The development of atopic dermatitis is influenced by various factors, including environmental conditions, bacteria, and allergens (e.g., sensitivity to laundry detergents or certain foods).

The skin conditions mentioned above may contribute to various eye problems, such as atopic eyelid dermatitis, blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid margins), ocular herpes infections, bacterial eye infections, dry eye syndrome (DES), uveitis (inflammation of the uveal tract), and corneal inflammation or dystrophy.

Systemic diseases: rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS)

In the course of these conditions, chronic inflammation can lead to the development of inflammatory and post-inflammatory changes in the eye. One of the most common complications is uveitis (inflammation of the uveal tract).

Sjögren’s Syndrome

An autoimmune disease belonging to the group of connective tissue disorders, Sjögren’s syndrome is characterised by chronic inflammation of the tear and salivary glands. Often referred to as the ‘dryness syndrome,’ it has a significant impact on the eyes, most notably causing severe dry eye syndrome.

Lyme Disease

A multisystem illness caused by a bacterial infection transmitted through tick bites. It can lead to various ocular complications – the most common include conjunctivitis, keratitis (corneal inflammation), uveitis (inflammation of the uveal tract), and optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve), as well as cranial nerve palsies that affect eye movement.

Graves’ Disease

An autoimmune condition that affects thyroid function. In some cases, the immune system also attacks the muscles and tissues around the eyes. This can lead to symptoms such as eye bulging (proptosis), dry eye syndrome, uveitis (inflammation of the uveal tract), and eyelid inflammation (blepharitis).

Chronic Diseases, Their Impact on the Eyes, and Laser Vision Correction

First and foremost, patients undergoing treatment for chronic conditions should bring a medical certificate to their qualification examination. This should include information from their specialist regarding the diagnosed condition, the medication and dosage used, and the stage of the disease.

The conditions mentioned above do not automatically rule out a positive outcome of the preliminary examination qualifying for laser vision correction. However, the procedure may carry a higher risk, as the healing process can be more complicated. Importantly, early-stage systemic diseases may not yet cause visible changes in the retina or cornea, which means they might not be detected during the qualification exam. If such changes are found, they may serve as a contraindication to refractive surgery.

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