Condition library
Systemic disease and the eyes
Eye problems driven by whole-body disease, medicines, or conditions that need joint medical care.
Medical reviewer Mr Mohamed Mohyudin, Consultant Ophthalmic SurgeonSite-wide clinical review
About this review
Mr Mohyudin completed a clinical review of the site’s medical content on the date shown. This page has been edited since then; a separate sign-off for this exact version has not yet been recorded, so we do not claim one.
Systemic and whole-body links: compared at a glance
Summaries only — follow each link for symptoms, causes, treatment and when to get urgent help.
| Condition | Part of the eye | In brief |
|---|---|---|
| Diabetic retinopathy | Retinal blood vessels and retina | Diabetes damages retinal vessels, often before you notice; screening finds treatable change — sudden floaters or vision loss are emergencies. |
| Diabetic macular oedema | Macula and retinal blood vessels | Fluid swelling at the macula from diabetes; blurs central vision but is treatable when found early on screening. |
| Thyroid eye disease | Eye muscles and eye socket (orbit) | Eye changes linked to thyroid problems, causing bulging, dryness and double vision; needs specialist care. |
| Giant cell arteritis | Optic nerve | Inflammation of scalp arteries in older adults; headache, jaw pain and sudden vision loss are emergencies. |
| Sjögren's syndrome and the eye | Tear gland and tear film | An autoimmune condition that often causes severe dry eye and mouth; lifelong monitoring and tailored dry-eye care help. |
| Papilloedema | Optic nerve | Swelling of the optic nerve from raised pressure around the brain; causes headaches and vision changes. |
| Optic neuritis | Optic nerve | Inflammation of the optic nerve causing sudden vision loss or pain on eye movement; needs urgent assessment. |
| Vitamin A deficiency and the eye | Conjunctiva, cornea and retina | Lack of vitamin A dries the eye surface and is a leading preventable cause of childhood blindness worldwide. |
| Leprosy and the eyes | Eyelid, cornea and iris | Leprosy can damage nerves that protect the eye surface, causing dryness, lagophthalmos and preventable corneal blindness. |
| Lymphatic filariasis | Eyelid and eye socket (orbit) | A mosquito-spread parasitic disease targeted by WHO; endemic in parts of Indonesia and tropical regions, with rare eye complications. |
| Cysticercosis and the eye | Vitreous gel and retina | Tapeworm larvae can lodge in the eye in endemic areas; causes vision loss if untreated — a WHO neglected tropical disease. |
| Ocular rosacea | Eyelid and conjunctiva | Eye irritation linked to the skin condition rosacea; manageable with eyelid care and treatment. |
| Retinal artery occlusion | Retinal blood vessels | Blocked retinal artery causing sudden painless vision loss; brief episodes (amaurosis fugax) are stroke warnings needing emergency assessment. |
Frequently asked questions
Why do people with diabetes need retina checks?
Diabetic retinopathy can progress silently until it threatens sight. Screening finds treatable changes early.
Can rheumatology medicines affect the eyes?
Yes. Drugs such as hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) need periodic eye screening. Always tell your eye clinician about regular medicines.
Which systemic symptoms with eye pain are emergencies?
Sudden vision loss, painful red eye with jaw claudication in older adults, or new double vision after stroke symptoms need urgent care.