[Ocular tuberculosis].

Abstract

The frequency of tuberculous uveitis has extremely decreased in Japan. Anterior granulomatous or non-granulomatous uveitis, chorioretinitis and retinal vasculitis are common ocular manifestations, while tuberculoma, scleritis, keratitis and orbital tuberculosis are rare. The diagnosis of ocular tuberculosis is extremely difficult because ocular tuberculosis tends to be negative in chest x-ray or tuberclin skin test. To diagnose ocular tuberculosis clinically some ophthalmologists recommend subconjunctival tuberculin test or therapeutic isoniazide (INH) test. Recently, for confirmed diagnosis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique has been used to detect mycobacterium in intraocular samples such as aqueous or vitreous humor. The mainstay of treatment is antituberculosis agents. Active retinal vasculitis or tuberculoma are generally responsive to corticosteroid therapy. Although ocular tuberculosis is rare, it must be considered as one of the possible causes of uveitis.