Upon examination of the literature, several characteristics of the choroidal tubercles become evident. The majority are unilateral, and can range in size from to several disk sizes in diameter. The lesions appear yellow early on, and become more pigmented as time passes. The retina is rarely involved primarily, but there are case reports of retinal vasculitis or vascular occlusions with associated periphlebitis. Most do not have systemic manifestations of TB, and may represent primary ocular tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis can also present as orbital mass, or as a eyelid abscesses.
There are biopsy-proven cases of TB scleritis. Phylectenulosis is a Type IV Hypersensitivity reaction that presents as an inflammatory mass on the cornea, and can be associated with Staphylococcus aureus , as well as tuberculosis. The first is Eales' disease. This is a rare disorder that is not associated with M. tuberculosis specifically, but with a positive tuberculin skin test. It is characterized by recurrent vitreous hemorrhages in young men.