Retinal vasculitis – Current approach to diagnosis, investigations, and management

Retinal vasculitis is defined as the inflammation of the retinal vessel wall, which may involve the veins (periphlebitis), arteries (periarteritis), capillaries (capillaritis), or a combination of these. It is an uncommon sight-threatening retinal vascular inflammatory disorder resulting in a plethora of clinical features. It may be associated with systemic inflammatory conditions, infections, neoplastic diseases, or may be idiopathic. Reaching a diagnostic etiology for retinal vasculitis is often a diagnostic challenge. Meticulous examination, essential laboratory investigations, fundus photography, autofluorescence, fundus fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography, B scan ultrasonography, and widefield fundus imaging enable us to arrive at a diagnosis. Antivascular endothelial growth factor and laser photocoagulation help to arrest neovascularization. Newer agents, such as immunomodulators and biologics, are effective against these sight-threatening conditions. Early management often helps to salvage vision and minimize comorbidities in these conditions. This review highlights on diagnosis and management of retinal vasculitis.