July 16, 2012 Inflammation of the sclera usually exceeds to uvea. It appears as painful swelling of the sclera with a strong episcleral and ciliary hyperemia. It is followed by intense pain to touch and at movement of the eye. It can reach up to any part of sclera. Anterior scleritis is easy to diagnose already with external examination, and rear scleritis is sometimes very difficult to diagnose. Perforal scleromalatia is a painless scleritis which appears at patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Sclera gradually necrotizes and becomes thinner, so through the thinned area bluishly shines and sticks out the ciliary body or the choroid (stafiloma of the sclera). It can end with perforation and loss of the eye.
Types:
It is distinguished between scleritis anterior and scleritis posterior, depending on the area where it appeared.
Scleritis anterior
Inflammation of anterior parts of the sclera.
Symptoms: intense pain to touch, occurrence of scars.
Causes: gout, rheumatism, tuberculosis, lues…
Treatment: according to the cause.
Scleritis posterior
Inflammation of the sclera behind the grip of straight eye muscles.
Symptoms: intense pain during eye movement.
Causes: tuberculosis, rheumatism, allergies…
Treatment: according to the cause.
Treatment:
Systemic steroids, anti-rheumatics, and sometimes cytostatics. The prognostication is bad – it can lead to loss of vision, even the whole eye.