A Pilot Study on the Ocular Effects of Colchicine in Children with Familial Mediterranean Fever

Background and Objectives: Myopia is a worldwide healthcare problem, particularly in the young population. Inflammation, alongside genetic and environmental factors, may contribute to the onset and progression of myopia. This pilot study explored whether long-term colchicine therapy is associated with ocular biometric and refractive differences in pediatric patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ocular biometric and refractive parameters were compared between FMF patients receiving colchicine for at least one year and age-matched healthy controls, including refraction, keratometry, anterior chamber depth (ACD), axial length (AL), and ganglion cell complex (GCC). Results: Compared with controls, the colchicine group showed a smaller refractive error (−0.46 ± 1.06 vs. −1.48 ± 1.93 D) and shallower ACD (3.29 ± 0.35 vs. 3.73 ± 0.31 mm); both remained significant after Holm-Bonferroni correction (corrected p = 0.041 and p < 0.001). Keratometry was also lower in the colchicine group but did not remain significant after correction (corrected p = 0.194). AL and GCC did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusions: Colchicine-treated FMF patients showed a less myopic profile and shallower anterior chamber depth than controls. Given the cross-sectional design and the inseparability of FMF status from colchicine treatment, these findings should be considered preliminary and hypothetical rather than evidence of a plausible protective effect, highlighting the need for longitudinal studies to clarify this potential association.