The aim of the study was to determine the spectrum of clinical ocular involvement in patients with inactive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who have no ocular symptoms. Patients with a diagnosis of SLE based on the 1982 revised American College of Rheumatology criteria and with no ocular complaints were recruited from the SLE clinic. Clinical data regarding their systemic disease and disease activity were recorded and a full ophthalmic examination carried out. 52 patients of mixed ethnicity comprising of 75% Chinese, 19% Malays and 6% Indian patients were recruited. Of these, 51 (98%) were female with a mean age of 34+/-11 (range 16-74 y). 16 (31%) patients had dry eyes while corticosteroid induced glaucoma and cataract was detected in 1 (2%) and 7 (14%) patients, respectively. No patients were found to have sight-threatening ocular conditions such as cotton wool spots, vasculitis, optic neuropathy or uveitis. Patients with clinically inactive disease were found not to have sight-threatening ocular diseases that are known to be associated with SLE. Although they have no ocular complaints, nearly one-third of these patients have dry eyes. Ocular examination may be unnecessary when the disease is clinically inactive and in the absence of ocular symptoms.