Ocular manifestations of vitiligo: Evaluation and study of any possible association

Background: Vitiligo is defined as an idiopathic, autoimmune condition characterized by destruction of the melanocytes. Melanocytes in the eye are present in two layers, the uvea and retinal pigment epithelium. Ocular findings in vitiligo have been studied to a very limited extent. Aim: To study the clinical pattern of ocular manifestations in cases diagnosed with vitiligo and to reveal any demographic or clinical feature that might suggest an association or risk factor for ocular involvement in cases of vitiligo. Material and methods: It was a Prospective case control observational study. 75 cases of vitiligo and 75 controls with similar demography were included. Cases were evaluated for relation of ocular involvement with type and duration of vitiligo, location of lesions and demographic characteristics. Simultaneously ocular manifestations of the control group were tested, for significance of the demographic characteristics and analyzed using chi-square test. Results and Conclusions: Ocular involvement in vitiligo is asymptomatic. In 75 diagnosed cases of vitiligo male to female ratio was 1:1.34 and 11 to 30 years age group had maximum number of cases. Iris hypopigmentation (33.3%) was the most frequent followed by fundus changes(30.6%) and hyper-pigmentation of the anterior chamber angle(20%). In the fundus peripapillary chorioretinal atrophy(18/23 cases) is the most common, diffuse hypopigmentation, background tessellation and temporal crescent being the others. The ocular involvement was found to be more in cases with vitiligo lesions located around the orbital or oral or genital areas. The duration of vitiligo and demographic characteristics are not the risk factors for ocular involvement in vitiligo.