Scleritis is a severe ocular inflammatory condition affecting the sclera, the outer covering of the eye. It can be categorized as anterior with diffuse, nodular, or necrotizing subtypes and posterior with diffuse or nodular subtypes.
Causes:
- Scleritis is often linked to autoimmune diseases. These diseases occur when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissue by mistake.
- Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus are examples of autoimmune diseases that can be associated with scleritis.
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. Diagnosis is clinical.
Treatment is with systemic corticosteroids and possibly other immunosuppressants.