Clinical Features of the Episcleritis and the Scleritis.

Choi, Dong Youk; Ko, Myung Kyoo; Yoo, Dae Hyun

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2002;43(8):1381-1387.
Published online August 1, 2002.

Clinical Features of the Episcleritis and the Scleritis.

Dong Youk Choi, Myung Kyoo Ko, Dae Hyun Yoo

¹Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea. fovea@hanyang.ac.kr
²Department of Rheumatology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.

상공막염과 공막염의 임상적 특징

최동육 ( Dong Youk Choi ) , 고명규 ( Myung Kyoo Ko ) , 유대현 ( Dae Hyun Yoo )

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the clinical features of the patients with episcleritis and scleritis. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was performed for above patients that had been followed from 1986. 8. 8 to 2001. 6. 4. RESULTS: The number of patients with episcleritis was 17 (49%) and that of scleritis was 18 (51%). Ocular complication occurred in 59% of patients with episcleritis and 72% of patients with scleritis. Keratitis was the most common ocular complication. No patient with episcleritis had a decrease in visual acuity, whereas 33% of patients with scleritis did. Systemic diseases were found in 69% of episcleritis whereas 77% of patients with scleritis associated with systemic diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis was the most common one in both groups of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular complications, systemic diseases, and decrease in visual acuity are associated more of commonly with scleritis than episcleritis. When scleritis is suspected, careful examinations for associated ocular complications should be performed and be followed with history taking and evaluation for associated systemic disease.

Key Words: Episcleritis;Scleritis;Complication;Systemic disease