OCULAR MANIFESTATIONS OF LEUKEMIA

Leukemia is a neoplasm of the hematopoietic system that affects the lymphopoietic or myelopoietic arms and is classified into four main categories, depending on the cell type predominantly involved. In 1845, it was first described by Virchow as "weisses blut" because of the proliferation of white blood cells. 36 The eye may become involved either directly by leukemic infiltration of various ocular tissues or by one of the secondary manifestations of the disease. For example, anemia and thrombocytopenia may lead to retinal hemorrhages and ischemia. Leukemic patients are often immunosuppressed, either as a result of impaired hematopoiesis or secondary to antineoplastic drugs, and are especially vulnerable to infection.