Background: Nonorganic diseases may be psychogenic (somatoform diseases) or due to malingering. Both occur frequently in the ophthalmologic practice.
Methods: This article reviews the different diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in nonorganic ocular diseases.
Results: After presenting the general symptoms, the origins of psychogenic diseases are discussed. Then, the specific tests used in ophthalmology to diagnose nonorganic diseases and the organic eye diseases most frequently confused with nonorganic diseases will be reported. At the end, we will discuss the treatment and the prognosis of psychogenic diseases.
Conclusion: An early diagnosis of nonorganic diseases is important, since a delayed diagnosis may worsen their prognosis.