Yehan Xiao

Antibodies in ocular disease have heterogeneous biological meanings: they may act as direct pathogenic effectors, systemic diagnostic biomarkers, indicators of B-cell clonality, or therapeutic agents. This distinction is particularly important in the eye, where immune privilege and the blood–ocular barrier restrict tissue access, whereas inflammation may permit entry of immunoglobulins, complement, and immune cells or support local humoral responses. This narrative review integrates antibody and B-cell biology across autoimmune and paraneoplastic retinopathies, aquaporin-4-immunoglobulin G-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease, ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid, ocular myasthenia gravis, thyroid eye disease, systemic autoimmune and fibroinflammatory disorders with ocular involvement, and B-cell malignancies including vitreoretinal and ocular adnexal lymphoma. We distinguish the evidence for direct antibody pathogenicity from disease association and emphasize that a positive result is interpretable only in relation to the ocular phenotype, assay platform, titer, specimen compartment, and orthogonal confirmation. Serum testing, ocular-fluid analysis, electrophysiology, multimodal imaging, cytology, histopathology, immunophenotyping, immunoglobulin clonality, and molecular testing have complementary roles. Therapeutic strategies include B-cell or B-lineage depletion, complement inhibition, cytokine- or receptor-directed monoclonal antibodies, insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor blockade, and emerging FcRn- or plasma-cell-directed approaches; however, regulatory status and ocular-specific evidence vary substantially among diseases. A mechanistically stratified framework may reduce overdiagnosis, improve recognition of malignant masquerade syndromes, and support more precise selection of targeted therapy.

Background: Hematologic malignancies (HMs), including leukemia and lymphoma, are systemic diseases that may cause a wide range of ocular manifestations. Methods: We searched PubMed/MEDLINE (2015-2026) and identified articles with an emphasis on clinically relevant studies and recent developments. Results: Clinically, ocular involvement presents with diverse manifestations, including retinal hemorrhage, vitreoretinal lymphoma, choroidal infiltration, orbital masses, treatment-related ocular toxicities, graft-versus-host disease, and secondary infectious complications. These findings may mimic other ocular diseases and consequently lead to delayed diagnosis. In some cases, ocular manifestations may represent the initial presentation of hematologic malignancies or indicate disease recurrence. Diagnostic evaluation relies on comprehensive ophthalmic examination, imaging, and laboratory analysis. Management strategies include systemic treatment of the underlying malignancy, local ocular therapy, and targeted treatment of infectious or treatment-related complications. Conclusions: Ocular manifestations of hematologic malignancies have significant diagnostic and prognostic implications. Early recognition, multidisciplinary collaboration, and comprehensive ophthalmic assessment are essential for timely diagnosis and optimal management. Improved awareness of disease-related, treatment-related, and infection-related ocular manifestations may facilitate earlier intervention and contribute to better visual and systemic outcomes.