Ocular Manifestations in Hematological Disorders

Haematological diseases encompass a wide spectrum of disorders that can present with ocular manifestations. Indeed, ocular manifestations may be the initial indication of an underlying haematological disorder. Blood disorders are one of the major health problems presenting with variable clinical manifestations. Nutritional anemia remains the common haematological abnormality especially in third world nations. The retinal metabolism is unable to tolerate this deprivation of its essential supplies with impunity for too long in anemia, falling prey to hypoxic damage in the end. Anaemic changes can thus be an indicator for the retinal damage manifesting either as haemorrhage or pallor. Leukaemia while less prevalent, shows ocular manifestations such as roths spots, arteriolar pallor, proptosis 9-90% of the time due to direct infiltration of ocular tissue or due to an opportunistic infection or as an associated haematological abnormality. Sub conjunctival and retinal haemorrhages may occur with thrombocytopenia irrespective of any aetiology. Previous reports indicate that their indeed exists a link between haematological abnormality and ocular manifestations. This study was designed to evaluate the ocular abnormalities in anaemia, platelet disorders and haematological malignancies.