If you have Vitiligo:
My dermatologist urged me to get my eyes checked regularly, in addition to my thyroid. This was based on his understanding of Vitiligo.
From a New York Times article:
The most common eye effect, seen in about 30 to 40 percent of patients, is loss of pigment in the cell layer just outside the retina, called the retinal pigment epithelium, and the attached layer, called the choroid, where blood vessels nourish the retina. Usually, however, this does not have a significant effect on vision.
Inflammation within the eye, called uveitis, can occur in about 5 percent of patients with vitiligo, Dr. Starr said, possibly causing redness, pain, sensitivity to light and in some cases reduced vision.
The rare but serious disorder Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome, which includes whitening of the hair or hair loss and skin whitening, can cause severe inflammation in both eyes, leading to retinal detachment and vision loss, as well as brain disorders and ear problems.
“Anyone with vitiligo and eye or vision changes should be seen by an eye doctor,” Dr. Starr said.
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