Content
Scleritis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the sclera, which is the thin layer of tissue that covers the white part of the eye, leading to the appearance of symptoms such as redness in the eye, pain when moving the eyes and decreased visual capacity in some cases. Scleritis can affect one or both eyes and is more common in young and middle-aged women, often resulting from complications of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, leprosy and tuberculosis.
Scleritis is curable, especially if treatment is started early in the disease. Thus, it is important to consult the ophthalmologist as soon as signs and symptoms appear that are indicative of scleritis, so that the most appropriate treatment can be initiated. To treat, medications such as antibiotics or immunosuppressants can be used, in addition to in some cases also having surgery .
Scleritis symptoms
The main symptoms related to scleritis are redness in the eye and pain when moving the eyes that can be so intense as to interfere with sleep and appetite. Other symptoms of scleritis are:
- 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;
- Perforation of the eyeball, being a sign of gravity.
However, when scleritis affects the back of the eye, the symptoms of the disease may not be immediately identified, which impairs its treatment and the prevention of complications.
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis is made with the evaluation of the symptoms and the structure of the eye by an ophthalmologist, who can also recommend tests 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.
Main causes
Scleritis arises mainly as a complication of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, Wegener's granulomatosis, recurrent polychondritis, lupus, reactive arthritis, nodular polyarthritis, 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.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for scleritis is done under the guidance of the ophthalmologist who indicates the use of medications according to the cause of the scleritis, and the use of antibiotics or immunosuppressants, for example, may be recommended.
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, should 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.
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team