Interdisciplinary aspects in a primary care physician's practice: eye abnormalities associated with rheumatic diseases

The paper provides an overview of ophthalmological manifestations associated with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, nodular periarteritis, systemic sclerosis, dermatomyositis, gout and other rheumatic diseases. Ophthalmological manifestations of rheumatic diseases, as well as lesions of the skin, its appendages, and oral mucosa, may be initial evidences of a systemic inflammatory process representing activity and severity of the disease. In patients with rheumatic diseases, the abnormal process can affect all the eye structures. According to the literature data, dry eye syndrome (dry keratoconjunctivitis), cataract, uveitis and scleritis are the most common ocular manifestations associated with the abovementioned diseases. Although articular syndrome is the leading clinical manifestation of rheumatic diseases, extra- articular presentations (e. g., eye diseases), in particular, may be a reason to seek medical help. A clinician's awareness and alertness about ophthalmological manifestations of rheumatic diseases will improve the diagnostic process and therapeutic strategy. KEYWORDS: rheumatic diseases, ophthalmological manifestations, dry eye syndrome, uveitis, scleritis. FOR CITATION: Gazdanova A.A., Solovieva S.A., Lenkova N.I., Ryazantseva O.V., Perkov A.V., Rykova S.M., Knyazeva S.A., Totrov I.N. Interdisciplinary aspects in a primary care physician's practice: eye abnormalities associated with rheumatic diseases. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2025;9(3):175–181 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2025-9-3-5