Asymptomatic Progression of Ocular Behcet's Disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To emphasize the importance of auxiliary exams to detect progression of ocular Behcet's disease (BD) in asymptomatic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective review of the clinical records of a consecutive series of patients with BD and asymptomatic visual deterioration, imaged on fundus photograph (FP), visual field (VF), fluorescein angiography (FA), and optical coherence tomography (OCT). RESULTS: Patients presented with no clinical findings or with mild inflammation on ophthalmic examination. However, during follow-up, VF examination indicated a progressive enlargement of previously visualized scotomas. On FA, the authors detected leakage and ischemia. On OCT, there was macular anatomical disruption, and the FP showed areas of atrophic retina. CONCLUSION: In patients with ocular BD, the visual acuity deterioration may be asymptomatic and progressive. This should justify the importance of early and sequential ancillary exams in the management of BD patients to detect subclinical ocular involvement.