Understanding Scleritis

The pain from scleritis is deep and different from other eye problems. People often describe it as boring or aching pain:

• Severe pain that stays constant and does not go away with rest
• Pain that gets worse when you move your eyes or look around
• Pain that can wake you up at night or keep you from sleeping
• Pain that does not get better with over-the-counter pain medicine

Scleritis can change your eye's appearance in ways that get worse over time:

• Deep red color, sometimes with purple or blue tints that looks different from pink eye
• Blurry vision or gradual loss of sight in the affected eye
• Areas where the white part looks thin, dark, or see-through
• Visible bumps or lumps on the white part of your eye

Additional symptoms that can make daily activities harder include:

• Too much tearing that is not related to crying or allergies
• Extreme sensitivity to bright light that makes you want to stay indoors
• Tenderness when touching around your eye or wearing glasses
• Feeling like something is stuck in your eye that will not go away

Most patients need prescription medications to control the deep inflammation of scleritis:

• Oral anti-inflammatory drugs like indomethacin for mild cases
• Oral steroids like prednisone for moderate to severe inflammation
• Immune system medications for severe or returning cases
• Biologic medications for the most difficult cases

If we find that a specific infection is causing your scleritis, we use medications targeted at that infection. This includes antibiotics for bacterial infections, antifungal drugs for fungal causes, or antiviral medications for viral triggers.

If you have an autoimmune disease, we work closely with your other doctors to make sure it is well-controlled. Good control of your overall health helps reduce the risk of scleritis coming back. We coordinate your care and make referrals when needed.

We provide complete pain management during your treatment, including appropriate pain medicines and cold compresses for comfort. Managing pain helps you heal better and maintain your quality of life during treatment.

Yes, scleritis is a serious eye condition that can threaten your vision if not treated promptly. However, with early diagnosis and appropriate treatment from our experienced ophthalmologists, most people recover well and maintain good vision. The key is getting care quickly when symptoms develop.

Healing time varies depending on the cause, type, and severity of your scleritis. Many patients begin feeling better within days to weeks of starting treatment, but complete healing often takes weeks to months. Some people need longer-term maintenance treatment to prevent return of the condition.

Yes, scleritis can return, especially if you have an underlying autoimmune disease. Regular follow-up care with our eye doctors, good control of any other health conditions, and taking maintenance medications as prescribed help reduce this risk significantly.

With early, effective treatment from our ophthalmologists, most people do not lose vision from scleritis. However, if left untreated or if the case is very severe, vision loss can occur. This is why it is so important to seek care right away if you have symptoms.

Like all medicines, those used for scleritis can have side effects. Oral steroids may cause weight gain, mood changes, or blood sugar changes. Immune system medications require regular blood tests to monitor for effects. We monitor you closely and adjust treatments as needed.

Scleritis causes much deeper, more severe pain and affects the deeper layers of your eye structure. Pink eye usually causes mild irritation and surface redness, while scleritis causes intense pain and requires immediate medical attention from our eye doctors.