Pattern of Ocular Manifestations in Autoimmune Diseases Among Adults in South West Nigeria

Autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis produce a wide spectrum of ocular manifestations that require collaborative management between ophthalmologists and rheumatologists. This study describes the pattern of ocular manifestations in autoimmune diseases among adults attending rheumatology and neurology clinics at University College Hospital, Ibadan, and Lagos University Teaching Hospital, South West Nigeria. An analytical cross-sectional study will be conducted over 12 months. All adults with confirmed autoimmune disease attending clinic will be offered comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation including visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fundoscopy, and Schirmer tear test. Clinical findings will be correlated with the specific autoimmune diagnosis, disease duration, current immunosuppressive therapy, and laboratory markers of disease activity. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis will characterise the relationship between autoimmune condition and ocular manifestation type. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, episcleritis, scleritis, and retinal vasculitis are among the most frequently described ocular manifestations of autoimmune disease globally, but their pattern in West African patients is not well characterised. Ethnic variation in autoimmune disease phenotype may influence ocular presentation profiles. This study generates South West Nigeria-specific data contributing to global autoimmune ophthalmology literature. Recommendations will advocate for routine ophthalmology referral for all autoimmune disease patients, development of inter-departmental collaborative care pathways at UCH and LUTH, and training of rheumatology nurses in recognising ocular symptoms. Keywords: autoimmune disease, ocular manifestations, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, South West Nigeria