Transient myopia with severe chemosis associated with exacerbation of disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus.

A 46-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) developed bilateral transient myopia and periorbital edema with severe chemosis. Her myopia was ascribed to a refractive abnormality that was caused by curvature change and anterior displacement of the lenses and the ciliary bodies due to anterior ocular edema. The conditions were not associated with systemic edema or abnormality in the fundi and responded well to the systemic administration of corticosteroid. The course of the ocular symptoms paralleled changes of serum CH50 and anti-dsDNA antibody levels. Thus it was concluded that her ocular symptoms were closely related to activity of her SLE and may be considered a feature of SLE.