Ocular syphilis in antibiotic era.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted multisystem disease caused by Treponema pallidum. Although easily treatable in early stages, if unrecognized, the disease usually progresses through its natural stages (i.e., primary, secondary, early latent, late latent, and tertiary) with devastating neurological, cardiovascular, and ocular sequelae. Syphilitic eye involvement may occur in any stage of the disease, affects mainly the posterior segment of the eye, and may cause blindness. Syphilitic eye involvement is especially severe in patients co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Ocular syphilis is managed by aqueous crystalline penicillin infusions for 10-14 days.