What autoimmune disease causes floaters
What autoimmune disease causes floaters Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, leading to a wide array of symptoms and health issues. Among these, some autoimmune disorders can affect the eyes and vision, sometimes causing visual disturbances such as floaters. Floaters are tiny spots, specks, or thread-like structures that drift through the field of vision. While they are often benign and related to aging, in certain autoimmune conditions, they can be a sign of underlying inflammation or damage within the eye.
One autoimmune disease that can cause floaters is Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease. VKH primarily affects melanin-containing tissues, including the eyes, and often leads to uveitis — inflammation of the uveal tract, which includes the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. Uveitis can cause a variety of visual disturbances, including floaters, due to the presence of inflammatory cells and debris within the vitreous humor. Patients with VKH may experience blurred vision, light sensitivity, and floaters as part of the inflammatory response damaging the eye’s internal structures.
Another autoimmune condition linked to floaters is Behçet’s disease. This chronic disorder causes blood vessel inflammation throughout the body, including in the eyes. Ocular Behçet’s often manifests as recurrent uveitis or retinal vasculitis, which can lead to the accumulation of inflammatory debris in the vitreous cavity. The presence of these inflammatory cells and fibrin can produce floaters that disturb vision. Persistent inflammation may also cause more severe complications such as retinal detachment or vision loss if not properly managed.
Sarcoidosis, a systemic granulomatous disease, can also involve the eyes. When sarcoidosis affects ocular tissues, it can cause anterior or posterior uveitis, leading to floaters, redness, and vision changes. The granulomas formed in the eye tissues can generate debris that appears as floaters. Chronic inflammation in sarcoidosis requires close monitoring and treatment with corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agents to reduce tissue damage and preserve vision.
Lupus erythematosus is another autoimmune disease that, although more commonly associated with skin and joint symptoms, can also involve the eyes. Ocular lupus may cause inflammation of various eye structures, including the retina and choroid. In cases where the retina becomes inflamed, small hemorrhages or cellular debris can develop within the vitreous humor, leading to floaters.
It is essential to recognize that floaters associated with autoimmune diseases often occur alongside other signs of inflammation, such as redness, pain, or decreased vision. If someone with an autoimmune disease notices a sudden increase in floaters, flashes of light, or a curtain-like shadow across their vision, they should seek prompt medical attention. These symptoms could indicate serious complications, like retinal detachment or severe uveitis, which require urgent treatment.
In summary, several autoimmune diseases, including Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, Behçet’s disease, sarcoidosis, and lupus erythematosus, can cause floaters through mechanisms involving intraocular inflammation and debris accumulation. Managing these conditions involves controlling inflammation with immunosuppressive therapies and regular eye examinations to prevent irreversible vision loss.
