Ocular Lymphoma: Detection, Management, and Treatment

Abstract

Primary intraocular lymphoma is a rare manifestation of primary central nervous system lymphoma. It most often affects patients in the sixth and seventh decades of life and has a predilection for immunocompromised patients, particularly males, whom it affects twice as often as females. Because of the ability of primary intraocular lymphoma to mimic less severe conditions such as uveitis, its detection can be difficult. The diagnosis should be suspected in all elderly patients with chronic uveitis unresponsive to corticosteroid or antibiotic therapy. Although no therapeutic paradigm has been defined, combining chemotherapy and radiation therapy is the most effective treatment for the condition. Without multicenter clinical trials focused on improved treatment strategies, optimal disease management will continue to be challenging. The increasing frequency of ocular lymphoma has underscored the need to meet this challenge. In this article, the authors aim to provide ophthalmologists and primary care physicians with the tools necessary to hasten early recognition and prompt treatment of the disorder. Although no cure exists, recent studies with rituximab have shown promising results in treating intraocular lymphoma.