The ocular effects of Lyme disease

New research published in Emerging Infectious Diseases has outlined the ocular effects of Lyme disease on 38 individuals between 1988 and 2025.

The retrospective case series examined 27 published PubMed reports of ocular manifestations of the condition over the period.

The researchers, from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Weill Cornell Medical College, noted that the most common ocular effect of Lyme disease among the cases was uveitis – which accounted for 45% of cases – followed by optic neuritis and cranial nerve palsies.

The authors noted that of the 38 cases reviewed, only five had definitive microbiologic confirmation.

“The remainder were classified as probable or possible on the basis of clinical features and serologic testing,” they noted.

The researchers shared that ocular manifestations of Lyme disease are rare. However, the condition can present in a broad range of ways.

They emphasised the importance of clinicians from a broad range of specialties being aware of Lyme disease – as well as how to alert public health officials and arrange for testing.

“When evaluating a patient who lives or travels in an area of high Lyme disease prevalence, keeping Lyme disease in the differential diagnosis is important,” the authors highlighted.