[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Ophthalmology](https://durgical.com/en/ophthalmology/) › [The eye in systemic disease](https://durgical.com/en/ophthalmology/areas/systemic/) › Sarcoidosis and Behçet disease in the eye

# Sarcoidosis and Behçet disease in the eye

- Eye and systemic disease

Sarcoidosis causes granulomatous uveitis; Behçet disease causes a hypopyon uveitis and retinal vasculitis that can blind quickly.

Updated Nov 5, 2026

**See it in 3D:** [Iris](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/iris/) · [Retina](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/retina/) · [Lacrimal gland](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/lacrimal-gland/)

## Key points

- Mutton-fat deposits and iris nodules = granulomatous uveitis (sarcoid, TB, syphilis).
- Behçet: oral and genital ulcers + hypopyon uveitis.
- Behçet retinal vasculitis can blind quickly.
- Exclude TB and syphilis before immunosuppression.

## What it is

Sarcoidosis and Behçet disease are two systemic inflammatory diseases in which the eye is often affected and sometimes the first organ involved. Sarcoidosis forms granulomas: large greasy deposits on the cornea, iris nodules, enlarged lacrimal glands and patchy inflammation of retinal veins. Behçet disease is an occlusive vasculitis with recurrent mouth and genital ulcers; its eye disease is recurrent, explosive and can destroy vision in a few attacks.

## Eye findings

- Sarcoidosis: granulomatous anterior uveitis (mutton-fat deposits, iris nodules), intermediate uveitis, periphlebitis, lacrimal gland swelling.
- Sarcoidosis may need a chest CT and a biopsy of an accessible lesion (conjunctiva, skin, lymph node) to confirm it.
- Behçet disease: recurrent oral ulcers plus genital ulcers, skin lesions, positive pathergy test and eye disease.
- Behçet uveitis: hypopyon in a relatively white eye and occlusive retinal vasculitis.

## Screening and follow-up

- Granulomatous uveitis also suggests tuberculosis and syphilis, which must be excluded before immunosuppression.
- Behçet retinal vasculitis needs early systemic immunosuppression and biologic drugs.
- Both diseases need joint care between ophthalmology and rheumatology or internal medicine.

## Next step / Initial management

- Granulomatous uveitis: chest imaging, ACE and lysozyme, calcium, and exclusion of tuberculosis and syphilis.
- Suspected Behçet disease with eye involvement: same-day ophthalmology and early systemic treatment.
- Any recurrent uveitis with mouth ulcers: ask about genital ulcers and skin lesions.
- Corticosteroid-sparing therapy under specialist care for chronic disease.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## What are mutton-fat keratic precipitates?

Large, greasy inflammatory deposits on the back of the cornea, typical of granulomatous uveitis (sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, syphilis).

## What is the eye disease of Behçet disease?

Recurrent uveitis, often with hypopyon, and occlusive retinal vasculitis that can cause rapid visual loss.

## What must be excluded before immunosuppression for granulomatous uveitis?

Tuberculosis and syphilis.

[Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/ophthalmology/sarcoidosis-and-behcet-disease-in-the-eye/)

## Connections

## See it in 3D 3

The structures of Durgical's 3D anatomy where it is found.

- [Iris](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/iris/)
- [Retina](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/retina/)
- [Lacrimal gland](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/lacrimal-gland/)

## Related 3

- [The uvea: iris, ciliary body and choroid](https://durgical.com/en/ophthalmology/the-uvea-iris-ciliary-body-and-choroid/)
- [Rheumatic and autoimmune disease in the eye](https://durgical.com/en/ophthalmology/rheumatic-and-autoimmune-disease-in-the-eye/)
- [Systemic infections in the eye: syphilis, TB, toxoplasma](https://durgical.com/en/ophthalmology/systemic-infections-in-the-eye-syphilis-tb-toxoplasma/)

## Related conditions 5

- [Sarcoidosis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/sarcoidosis/)
- [Behçet disease](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/behcet-disease/)
- [Uveitis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/uveitis/)
- [Tuberculosis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/tuberculosis/)
- [Syphilis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/syphilis/)

[← All of ophthalmology](https://durgical.com/en/ophthalmology/)

Educational content; not a clinical guideline and no substitute for assessment by a health professional. For sudden visual loss, severe eye pain, a chemical burn or an eye injury, go to an emergency department at once.

Sources: [Ocular Sarcoidosis](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK580538/) (StatPearls Publishing (NCBI Bookshelf), 2026); [Behcet Disease](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470257/) (StatPearls Publishing (NCBI Bookshelf), 2026); [Granulomatous Uveitis](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK570581/) (StatPearls Publishing (NCBI Bookshelf), 2026).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/ophthalmology/sarcoidosis-and-behcet-disease-in-the-eye/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/ophthalmology/sarcoidosis-and-behcet-disease-in-the-eye/