TITLE:
Subconjunctival Hemorrhage—Unusual Presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): A Case Report
AUTHORS:
Ruba Alselaimy, Marya Alhashim, Amro Elrakhawy
KEYWORDS:
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Subconjunctival Hemorrhage, HRVO, Retinal Vasculitis
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ophthalmology,
Vol.15 No.4,
September
25,
2025
ABSTRACT: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease, affecting connective tissues, associated with a variety of systemic symptoms, including ocular manifestations. These ocular signs are diverse and have been reported in the literature, including keratoconjunctivitis sicca, retinopathy (as in retinal vascular occlusions), and choroidal and optic nerve involvement. Of these, subconjunctival hemorrhage is reported in the literature as a potential sign of SLE-related coagulopathies. Recognizing rare SLE presentations is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, and the involvement of multidisciplinary teams and comprehensive diagnostic work-up can significantly improve management strategies. We reported a case of rare SLE presentation in Saudi Arabia, in a young female otherwise healthy and presented to the emergency department with dense subconjunctival hemorrhage, ecchymosis, and Hemi Retinal Vein Occlusion (HRVO), and was later diagnosed with SLE.