Scleromalacia perforans is specifically associated with which systemic condition?

Scleromalacia perforans is a serious ocular condition characterized by the thinning and perforation of the sclera, which is the white outer layer of the eyeball. This condition is most notably associated with rheumatoid arthritis, a systemic autoimmune disease that primarily affects joints but can have significant effects on other organs, including the eyes.

In rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, leading to chronic inflammation. Over time, this inflammation can lead to various ocular complications, including scleromalacia perforans. The pathophysiology involves the degrading of the scleral tissues, leading to thinning and potential perforation, which may pose a risk for vision loss.

Other systemic conditions listed, while they may have ocular manifestations, do not have a specific and strong association with scleromalacia perforans as does rheumatoid arthritis. For example, systemic lupus erythematosus and psoriatic arthritis can cause other eye problems but are not classically linked to scleral thinning and perforation in the same way. Ankylosing spondylitis is similarly associated with uveitis and other inflammatory responses but lacks the direct association with scleromalacia perforans.

Understanding this relationship emphasizes the importance of recognizing ocular manifestations tied to