Episcleritis is inflammation of the tissue lying between the sclera (the tough, white, fiber layer covering the eye) and the conjunctiva (the membrane that lines the eyelid and covers the white of the eye).
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The cause of episcleritis is usually unknown.
Symptoms include eye redness, swelling, and irritation.
Doctors base the diagnosis on the person's symptoms and on an examination of the eyes.
Episcleritis goes away on its own, but corticosteroid eye drops may make symptoms go away quicker.
An Inside Look at the Eye
Episcleritis occurs in young adults and affects women more often than men. Usually, the inflammation affects only a small patch of the eyeball and causes a red, and sometimes slightly yellow, raised area. The condition is not usually a sign of any other disease but sometimes occurs in people who have a systemic rheumatic disease (such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis).
DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Additional symptoms include eye tenderness and irritation, with slightly increased watering of the eye and mildly increased sensitivity to bright light. The condition tends to disappear and may return.
The diagnosis is based on the symptoms and on the appearance of the eye.
Treatment of Episcleritis
Sometimes corticosteroid eye drops or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by mouth
Treatment of episcleritis is often unnecessary. Eye drops that constrict blood vessels of the eye, such as tetrahydrozoline, can temporarily decrease the redness. However, these drops should be used only for a short time because long-term use leads to even more redness (called a rebound effect). Treatment of episcleritis is often unnecessary. Eye drops that constrict blood vessels of the eye, such as tetrahydrozoline, can temporarily decrease the redness. However, these drops should be used only for a short time because long-term use leads to even more redness (called a rebound effect).
To treat an episode, corticosteroid eye drops or an NSAID taken by mouth can be used to make symptoms go away more quickly.
