Implications of Celiac Disease in Prospective Corneal Refractive Surgery Patients: A Narrative Review

TL;DR

This paper reviews how celiac disease can affect eye health and influence decisions about corneal refractive surgery.

Contribution

The paper provides preliminary guidelines for managing corneal refractive surgery in patients with celiac disease.

Findings

Celiac disease can cause ocular issues like dryness, endothelial cell density changes, and corneal nerve alterations.

Patients with celiac disease may have coexisting autoimmune conditions that impact surgical outcomes.

Individualized evaluations are needed to determine surgical candidacy for celiac disease patients.

Abstract

Celiac disease (CeD) is a prevalent autoimmune disorder incited by gluten consumption, resulting in intestinal damage. Affecting approximately one in 133 people globally, CeD often remains undiagnosed due to its varied clinical presentations. The prevalence and diagnosis of CeD are influenced by several factors, including demographics and genetics, and it often coexists with other autoimmune diseases. Thus, the objective of this paper was to review the literature on ophthalmic manifestations of CeD and to create preliminary considerations for these patients wishing to undergo elective corneal refractive surgery (CRS).

A literature review was conducted through July 2024, and relevant search terms were used to identify contributing papers. The review enabled the development of detailed considerations for the ocular manifestations of CeD and recommended management strategies for healthcare teams before and following CRS. The 24 papers included in this study illustrate that nutritional deficiencies and autoimmune concerns linked to CeD have distinctive ocular presentations. Based on these findings, patients with CeD may exhibit unconventional ocular manifestations beyond their typical gastrointestinal symptoms, such as decreased endothelial cell density (ECD), vitamin A deficiency leading to dryness, altered corneal nerve density, cataracts, uveitis, changes in choroidal thickness, papilledema, and neurological issues such as nystagmus. Patients with CeD may also experience synergistic impacts from concomitant autoimmune conditions such as Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) in addition to the coexistence of thyroid ophthalmopathy.

Recognizing that CeD is an autoimmune disorder that can be exacerbated by other conditions, it is essential to conduct a thorough evaluation for elective CRS. Due to the variability in ocular manifestations among CeD patients, individualized evaluations are crucial for determining surgical candidacy and optimizing outcomes, especially for patients who may not be well controlled. Evaluations are likely to encompass a subjective assessment through a questionnaire exploring the patient’s past medical history related to CeD. These questions can range from inquiring about general past medical history related to CeD regarding dietary gluten intake and weight loss to joint pain and cognitive impairments such as brain fog. Clinicians should also perform a comprehensive objective assessment utilizing slit-lamp biomicroscopy, Schirmer test, tear break-up time (TBUT), optical coherence tomography (OCT), Scheimpflug imaging, or fundoscopy.

Although there is currently no specific information regarding CRS recommendations for patients with CeD, we believe the considerations outlined in this paper should serve as preliminary guidelines for clinicians. While our findings have formed considerations for future healthcare teams, further research is needed to fully understand the impact of CeD on CRS outcomes and refine these recommendations.