Intermediate Uveitis as the Initial and Only Presentation of Syphilis

Abstract

We report a patient with unilateral syphilitic intermediate uveitis without dermatological, neurological, or any systemic involvement. He presented to our clinic with complaints of eye floaters and worsening visual acuity in the left eye. He had intermediate uveitis and cystoid macular edema in that eye and both venereal disease research laboratory and microhemagglutination assay for Treponema pallidum serological tests were confirmatory for syphilis. Ocular manifestations of syphilis have variable presentations, and it should be considered when diagnosing unexplained ocular inflammatory diseases, even if the patient’s recent history and systemic evaluation are not compatible.

Keywords

• syphilis
• intermediate uveitis
• cystoid macular edema