Sympathetic Ophthalmia: Where Do We Currently Stand on Treatment Strategies?

Vivek Paulbuddhe,1 Sujit Addya,1 Bharat Gurnani,2 Dheerendra Singh,3 Koushik Tripathy,4 Rohan Chawla5 1Department of Vitreoretina, ASG Eye Hospital, Guwahati, 781006, Assam, India; 2Department of Cornea, Aravind Eye Hospital and Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Pondicherry, 605007, Puducherry, India; 3Department of Retina, ASG Eye Hospital, Bhopal, 462016, Madhya Pradesh, India; 4Department of Vitreoretina, ASG Eye Hospital, Kolkata, 700058, West Bengal, India; 5Department of Ophthalmology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, IndiaCorrespondence: Koushik TripathyDepartment of Vitreoretina, ASG Eye Hospital, 149, BT Road, Kolkata, 700058, West Bengal, IndiaTel +913325632222Email koushiktripathy@gmail.comAbstract: Sympathetic ophthalmia is a rare bilateral diffuse granulomatous panuveitis that usually results from surgical or penetrating trauma to one eye. The symptoms range from impaired near vision to pain, photophobia, and loss of visual acuity. Anterior segment manifestations include bilateral acute uveitis with mutton-fat keratic precipitates and posterior segment findings include vitritis, multifocal neurosensory retinal detachment, choroiditis, optic nerve edema, and Dalen–Fuchs nodules. The diagnosis is clinical. Ancillary investigations include fundus fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), ultrasound B scan, and autofluorescence imaging. The management options include corticosteroids (topical and systemic) as the first line along with immunomodulatory therapy started at the presentation of the disease. Recent advances include imaging with OCT-angiography, enhanced depth imaging-OCT (EDI-OCT, choroidal vascular index/CVI), targeting IL-23/IL-17 pathway, and use of biologics for the management of this rare entity. Recent advances in early diagnosis and prompt treatment has led to improved final visual outcomes in both the sympathizing and exciting eye. This review is aimed at giving a comprehensive overview of sympathetic ophthalmia along with a special emphasis on current treatment strategies and recent advances.Keywords: ocular trauma, inciting eye, exciting eye, corticosteroids, open globe injury, infliximab, adalimumab