Scleritis is a serious but rarely diagnosed eye disease. In extreme cases, scleritis can lead to necrosis of the eyeball, and thus - loss of vision and even the eye. What are the causes and symptoms of scleritis? How is this eye disease treated?
Scleritisis inflammation of the outer wall of the eyeball that surrounds the inside of the eye on all sides (except the front part, where it passes into the cornea). As a result of inflammation, the function of the sclera is disturbed, i.e. it cannot protect the eye and give it adequate stiffness and shape.
Depending on which part of the eye is inflamed, it is distinguished by:
- front scleritis- divided into diffuse, nodular, necrotic with inflammation and necrotic without inflammation
- posterior scleritis- characterized by thickening of the sclera and choroid visible on ultrasound and swelling of the orbital tissues
Scleritis should not be confused withepiscleritis , which is a separate disease and is usually mild.
Scleritis - causes
Scleritis may be spontaneous, but it is often (more than 55% of cases) associated with a variety of diseases.
The cause of scleritis can be autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, polyarteritis nodosa, ankylosing spondylitis, recurrent cartilage inflammation, Wegener's granulomatosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ulcerative colitis, psoriatic arthritis, and IGA nephropathy .
Scleritis can also develop in the course of infectious and granulomatous diseases such as tuberculosis, syphilis, sarcoidosis, toxoplasma, herpes and herpes zoster virus infections.
The causes of scleritis also include physical factors, such as chemical and thermal burns, radiation, and mechanical - related to an injury or surgery. Less often, the disease is the result of side effects of the medications used.
Scleritis - symptoms
The disease develops gradually. Within a fewA dozen or so days after the onset of inflammation, pain radiating to the forehead, temples and face appears, which is the dominant symptom. There is also a characteristic blue-red eye redness. Accompanying symptoms may include watery eyes, disturbance in leading, and even eye deformity.
Scleritis - diagnosis
In order to diagnose scleritis, a slit-lamp examination, computed tomography, ultrasound of the eye socket and blood tests are performed, including ESR, CRP (indicators of generalized inflammatory process).
Scleritis - treatment
The basis of therapy is treating the underlying disease. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to relieve the symptoms of inflammation. Topical steroid use in the form of drops or retrobulbar injections is also recommended.