Eye Disease ~ Scleritis By Michael Dawes

Description Scleritis is a serious inflammatory disease that affects the white Outer bit of the eye, known as the sclera. The disease is often received through contact with other diseases of the body. For this reason, scleritis occurs frequently to young women. There are 3 types of scleritis: Diffuse scleritis (the most common) Nodular scleritis and Necrotizing scleritis (the most severe). Scleritis may be the first symptom of tissue disease.

Signs And Symptoms Symptoms of the disease include: Redness of the sclera, sometimes changing to a purple colour. Severe pain which may radiate to the temple or jaw. Tearing Decrease in visual sight, possibly leading to Blindness.

Diagnosis Scleritis is best detected by examining the sclera in daylight. Other aspects of the eye exam including visual acuity testing, Slit lamp examination, etc can be normal. Ancillary tests CAT scans, Magnetic resonance imaging. Ultrasonic graphs can be helpful, but do not replace the physical examination.

Treatment In very severe cases of scleritis, eye surgery must be performed to repair damaged tissue in the eye and preserve the patient's vision. For less severe cases, anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, are prescribed for pain relief. Scleritis itself is treated with an oral medication containing corticosteroids and eye solution. In some cases, antibiotics are prescribed. Simply using eye drops will not treat scleritis. In more aggressive cases of scleritis, Chemotherapy may be used to treat the disease. If not treated, scleritis can cause blindness.