Episcleritis Follow-up

  • Author: Hampton Roy Sr, MD; Chief Editor: Hampton Roy Sr, MD   more...
 
Updated: Mar 2, 2012
 

Further Outpatient Care

Approximately 30% of patients with episcleritis may have an associated underlying systemic disease. Of these, up to 11% of patients with episcleritis may have hyperuricemia. Other diseases with high degrees of association with episcleritis are connective tissue disease, herpes zoster, rosacea, syphilis, underlying vasculitic disease, and atopy. Infectious diseases other than herpes (eg, tuberculosis, syphilis, Lyme disease, bacterial infections) are seen but are relatively uncommon.

In patients with gout, recurrent episcleritis may be associated with attacks of arthritis.

Long-term continuous therapy with steroid preparations should be avoided because of the danger of inducing cataract and glaucoma. Also, steroid use in episcleritis may increase the risk of recurrence.

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Deterrence/Prevention

In patients with gout, control uric acid levels.

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Prognosis

The prognosis is favorable.

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Patient Education

Episcleritis is usually self-limited. The patient is usually comforted to know that it does not progress to a more serious disorder.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Hampton Roy Sr, MD  Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Hampton Roy Sr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Andrew A Dahl, MD  Director of Ophthalmology Teaching, Mid-Hudson Family Practice Institute, The Institute for Family Health; Assistant Professor of Surgery (Ophthalmology), New York College of Medicine

Andrew A Dahl, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and Wilderness Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Simon K Law, MD, PharmD  Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine

Simon K Law, MD, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Glaucoma Society, and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

R Christopher Walton, MD  Professor, Director of Uveitis and Ocular Inflammatory Disease Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education, University of Tennessee College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Regional Medical Center, Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, St Jude Children's Research Hospital

R Christopher Walton, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Healthcare Executives, American Uveitis Society, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and Retina Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Lance L Brown, OD, MD  Ophthalmologist, Affiliated With Freeman Hospital and St John's Hospital, Regional Eye Center, Joplin, Missouri

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Hampton Roy Sr, MD  Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Hampton Roy Sr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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  2. Watson PG, Hazelman BL. The Sclera and Systemic Disorders. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1976.

  3. Lin CP, Shih MH, Su CY. Scleritis. Surv Ophthalmol. May-Jun 2006;51(3):288-9; author reply 289. [Medline].

  4. Watson PG. Episcleritis. In: Current Ocular Therapy. 5th ed. 809.

  5. Watson PG, Hayreh SS. Scleritis and episcleritis. Br J Ophthalmol. 1976;60:163-192. [Medline].

  6. Minas TF, Podos SM. Familial glaucoma associated with elevated episcleral venous pressure. Arch Ophthalmol. 1968;80:202-213. [Medline].

  7. Roy FH. Ocular Differential Diagnosis. Vol 1. 7th ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 2002.

  8. Boniuk M. The ocular manifestations of ophthalmic vein and aseptic cavernous sinus thrombosis. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol. Nov-Dec 1972;76(6):1519-34. [Medline].

  9. Williams CP, Browning AC, Sleep TJ. A randomised, double-blind trial of topical ketorolac vs artificial tears for the treatment of episcleritis. Eye. Sep 2004;[Medline].

  10. Lim L, Suhler EB, Smith JR. Biologic therapies for inflammatory eye disease. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol. May-Jun 2006;34(4):365-374. [Medline].

 
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