What is a scleritis?
The white part of your eye (called the sclera) is a layer of tissue that protects the rest of your eye. When this area is inflamed and hurts, doctors call that condition scleritis.
Is scleritis serious?
Scleritis is a severe, destructive, vision-threatening inflammation involving the deep episclera and sclera. Symptoms are moderate to marked pain, hyperemia of the globe, lacrimation, and photophobia.
How long does scleritis take to heal?
You may also need medicine to treat the cause, such as an antibiotic for infection or medicine for immune system problems. With treatment, scleritis can sometimes go away in a few weeks. But it can last longer, even years.
How do you treat scleritis?
How is scleritis treated?
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are most often used in nodular anterior scleritis.
- Corticosteroid pills (such as prednisone) may be used if NSAIDs don’t reduce inflammation.
- Oral glucocorticoids are the preferred choice for posterior scleritis.
What are the causes of scleritis?
What Causes Scleritis?
- joint swelling and stiffness (arthritis)
- lupus, or other connective tissue disease.
- eye infection.
- inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Sjogren’s syndrome (causes very dry eyes and other symptoms)
- granulomatosis.
- scleroderma.
How do you cure scleritis?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are most often used in nodular anterior scleritis. Reducing inflammation also helps to ease scleritis pain. Corticosteroid pills (such as prednisone) may be used if NSAIDs don’t reduce inflammation. Oral glucocorticoids are the preferred choice for posterior scleritis.
What is scleritis a symptom of?
Scleritis is often linked with an autoimmune disease. Sometimes there is no known cause. Scleritis may be linked to: joint swelling and stiffness (arthritis) lupus, or other connective tissue disease.
Can scleritis go away on its own?
It also may go away on its own. If your eye looks very red and feels painful, or your vision is blurry, seek immediate treatment. You may have a related condition called scleritis, which requires more aggressive treatment and can lead to permanent eye damage.
What are the signs of scleritis?
Scleritis symptoms can include:
- severe pain.
- tenderness of the eye.
- inflammation of the white part of the eye.
- blurred vision.
- tearing.
- extreme sensitivity to light.
How is scleritis diagnosed?
The diagnosis of scleritis is based primarily on clinical observation and the patient’s presenting constellation of symptoms. Pain will be the hallmark, and it is constant, may radiate to the periorbital region and will be exacerbated by eye movement.