Scleritis can be cured, especially if treatment is started early in the disease. To treat, medications such as antibiotics or immunosuppressants can be used, and in some cases surgery is also necessary.
Scleritis is a serious disease that causes inflammation of the sclera, the thin layer of tissue that covers the white part of the eye. It can reach only one or both eyes, being more frequent in young and middle-aged women, and is often caused by complications of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, leprosy and tuberculosis.
The medications to be used depend on the type and cause of the disease, but antibiotics and immunosuppressants are usually prescribed to fight microorganisms that are causing the infection.
In cases of complications such as cataracts and glaucoma that cannot be controlled with medication alone, the doctor may also recommend surgery. In addition, other diseases that may have caused scleritis, such as lupus and tuberculosis, must be treated and controlled to promote healing of the eye and prevent the problem from recurring.
However, it is important to remember that cases of necrotizing anterior scleritis with inflammation and posterior scleritis are the most severe, with the greatest chance of loss of vision and, in some cases, death.
Symptoms
The symptoms of scleritis vary according to the location of the affected eye and the severity of the disease, but it usually appears:
- Redness; Pain, especially when moving the eyes Swelling in the eye; Change from white to yellowish tones in the eye; Appearance of a painful lump, which may not move at all; Decreased vision.
However, when scleritis affects the back of the eye, the symptoms of the disease may not be immediately identified, which impairs its treatment and prevention of complications.
Diagnosis and Complications
The diagnosis is made with the evaluation of the symptoms and the structure of the eye by an ophthalmologist, who can also recommend exams such as topical instillation of anesthetic, slit lamp biomicroscopy and 10% phenylephrine test.
When not treated properly, scleritis can cause complications such as glaucoma, retinal detachment, swelling of the optic nerve, changes in the cornea, cataracts, progressive loss of vision and blindness.
Causes
Scleritis arises mainly as a complication of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, Wegener's granulomatosis, recurrent polychondritis, lupus, reactive arthritis, polyarthritis nodosa, ankylosing spondylitis, leprosy, syphilis, Churg-Strauss syndrome and, in rare cases, tuberculosis and arterial hypertension.
In addition, the disease can arise after eye surgery, accidents or the presence of foreign bodies in the eye or local infections caused by microorganisms.
