Inflammation that persists for a long time may block fluid drainage from the eye, causing glaucoma, which can lead to blindness. Such granulomas often don't cause symptoms, but the conjunctiva is an accessible site from which a doctor can take tissue samples for examination. Some people with sarcoidosis complain of dry, sore, and reddened eyes, probably caused by sluggish tear glands that have been affected by the disease and no longer produce enough tears to keep the eyes lubricated. Granulomas that form in the heart may cause angina or heart failure. Those that form near the electrical conducting system of the heart can trigger potentially fatal irregularities in the heartbeat.
Inflammation can cause widespread pain in the joints.
The joints in the hands and feet are most commonly affected. Cysts form in the bones and can make nearby joints swollen and tender. The pituitary gland stops producing vasopressin, a hormone needed by the kidney to concentrate urine, causing frequent urination and excessive amounts of urine. Sarcoidosis can cause high levels of calcium to accumulate in the blood and urine. These high levels occur because sarcoid granulomas produce activated vitamin D, which enhances calcium absorption from the intestine.