Scleritis

Scleritis
Inflammation of entire thickness of the sclera
Specialty	Ophthalmology, Optometry
Symptoms	Eye redness, pain, photophobia, tearing, decrease in visual acuity
Usual onset	30 - 60 years of age
Risk factors	Female gender
Differential diagnosis	Episcleritis
Treatment	Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Surgery (rarely needed)
Frequency	Uncommon

Scleritis is a serious inflammatory disease that affects the white outer coating of the eye, known as the sclera. The disease is often contracted through association with other diseases of the body, such as granulomatosis with polyangiitis or rheumatoid arthritis. There are three types of scleritis: diffuse scleritis (the most common), nodular scleritis, and necrotizing scleritis (the most severe). Scleritis may be the first symptom of onset of connective tissue disease.^[1]

Episcleritis is inflammation of the episclera, a less serious condition that seldom develops into scleritis.^[2]