April 30th is the day designated for raising awareness about sarcoidosis, a non-contagious autoimmune disease. Sarcoidosis is characterized by small, inflammatory lumps, called granulomas, which can appear in various parts of the body, most commonly in the lungs, lymph nodes, eyes, and skin. In fact, 90% of cases are found in the lungs. These granulomas can also form on the heart, liver, muscles, joints, and spleen.

Sir Jonathan Hutchinson was the first to describe Sarcoidosis in 1878 as dermatological disorder. In 1909, Danish ophthalmologist Heerfordt reported ocular involvement for the first time.

Over a century later, sarcoidosis is still an enigmatic disease, with unknown causes. It is believed that genetic predisposition may be a contributing factor. Sarcoidosis is one of the leading causes of ocular inflammation.

Chronic inflammation of the eye can pose a serious threat to eyesight. If left untreated, inflammation can lead to cataracts, glaucoma, damage to the optic nerve, and detachment of the retina. Symptoms of sarcoidosis can include eye burning, itch, pain, dryness, redness, black spots, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and small yellow bumps on the eye. Prompt and effective treatment can reverse visual damage and prevent permanent vision loss. The prognosis for the most common form of the disease is good, as clinical studies have shown that the condition can disappear spontaneously.

Sources:
www.mayoclinic.org
www.clevelandclinic.org
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

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