Ocular Involvement of Brucellosis: A Pooled Analysis Study

Abstract

Aim: Brucellosis may affect the eye to varying degrees. The aim of this study was to investigate the ocular involvement of brucellosis and highlight key points. Material and Methods: Published literature in English language on the ocular involvement of brucellosis within last 30 years was evaluated. The PubMed international database was screened using certain keywords. Results: The study included 27 publications evaluating a total of 159 cases. The most common types of ocular involvement were uveitis (52.2%) and conjunctivitis (17.6%). Most cases had concomitant systemic brucellosis (27.7%), and the most commonly used diagnostic method was a serological test (92.4%). Of all the patients, 37.1% recovered with sequelae. Conclusion: Brucellosis may cause a wide range of ophthalmic manifestations, and an overlooked or late diagnosis may also lead to the development of sequelae or loss of vision. A routine ophthalmologic examination should be performed in all patients with systemic brucellosis.