Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by patchy, partial, or complete hair loss. The most frequently reported retinal abnormalities included retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) dysfunction, pigmentary changes (such as drusen and pigment clumping), and retinal detachment. A meta-analysis of seven studies involving 109,693 participants found that individuals with alopecia areata had nearly a fourfold higher risk of retinal abnormalities than controls (risk ratio 3.88). They concluded that despite the significantly increased relative risk of retinal abnormalities in alopecia areata, the low absolute risk does not justify routine ophthalmic screening. Retinal abnormalities in alopecia areata: A systematic review and meta-analysis.