This case report presents a patient with long-lasting rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of
fourth clinical grade, having ocular complications. RA was diagnosed according to current
modified ARA criteria from 1987. Upon admission to the Department of Ophthalmology
clinical examination revealed anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (AION),
which is not characteristic manifestation of RA in the eye. The occurrence of AION in
patients with RA has been explained in literature as a secondary manifestation of hypertension
in these patients or, by the presence of other connective tissue disease apart
from RA (for example, MCTD – mixed connective tissue disease). Both mentioned causes
were excluded in our case, as well as any other condition that could lead to AION.
Therefore, we had concluded that AION presented a late complication of RA
