Episcleritis of the eye is an inflammatory disease. The disease has its own characteristics and requires therapy. This process affects the outer sclera, which is located between the inner sclera and the conjunctiva. As a rule, the disease is benign. The disease proceeds easily, but the tendency to relapse persists. The disease can periodically disturb the patient, affecting both eyes. Most of the time it heals on its own.
Causes of disease
Why does eye episcleritis occur? It was not possible to determine the exact causes of this disease, since most people do not go to the doctor with such an ailment. Studies show that episcleritis occurs in those who suffer from systemic diseases. The number of such cases is one third of all visits to the doctor with a similar ailment. At the same time, an increase in the amount of uric acid in the blood was noted in 11% of patients.
Often episcleritis of the eye is provoked by diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis. These ailments most often affect the connective tissues. This category includes ankylosing spondylitis and polyarthritis nodosa.
Also cause developmentEpiscleritis is capable of infectious diseases: viral, including herpes, parasitic, fungal, as well as Lyme disease, tuberculosis, syphilis.
There are other causes of the disease: chemical exposure, foreign body, gout, T-cell leukemia, necrobiotic xanthogranuloma, dermatomyositis, paraproteinemia.
Symptoms
What does eye episcleritis look like? A photo of the disease is presented above. At the moment, there are several forms of the disease: nodular and simple. There is also a migratory variant of the disease and rosacea-episcleritis.
The simple form is more common. Her main features are:
- Inflammatory process of severe or mild form.
- Diffusion or local redness.
- Pain.
- Photophobia.
- Feeling uncomfortable.
- Transparent eye discharge.
In autumn and spring, as well as with hormonal changes and stress loads, the symptoms described above appear more often.
Symptoms of nodular episcleritis
Nodular episcleritis is characterized by the formation of round nodules, covered with hyperemic conjunctiva, formed near the limbus. In this case, pain is more pronounced. The acute form of the disease can be replaced by periods of relief. At the same time, with each relapse, the process can become very aggravated.
In extreme cases, there are signs of illness on the cornea: saucer-shaped depressions at the very edge or in the form of peripheral infiltrates. AT 10 O'CLOCK%in all cases, symptoms of anterior uevitis are noted - an inflammatory process that affects the choroid of the organ of vision.
With this form, the disease does not cause lacrimation and photophobia.
Signs of migratory form and episcleritis rosacea
Episcleritis of the eye may be migratory. With this form, the focus of the inflammatory process can occur suddenly. In this case, the disease can alternately manifest itself in one or the other eye. Most often, this form is accompanied by angioedema of the eyelids and migraine. In a few days, symptoms may disappear.
Rosacea-epscleritis manifests itself in the same way as the migratory form. In this case, the symptoms may be accompanied by damage to the cornea of \u200b\u200bthe eye and rosacea on the skin, localized only on the face. By these signs, the doctor can determine the severity of the disease.
Episcleritis of the eye: treatment
If there are signs of episcleritis of the eye, then first of all it is worth visiting a doctor. In this case, you should contact an ophthalmologist. With the development of the disease, you should not particularly worry, as it proceeds in a mild form and practically does not cause discomfort.
In some cases, episcleritis of the eye occurs imperceptibly for a person and also disappears imperceptibly. In such situations, treatment comes down to waiting for the disease to simply pass on its own. To speed up this process, your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs.
At the same time, the specialistadvises to avoid overexertion and provide the eyes with maximum rest. Otherwise, the condition may worsen. If pain occurs in the organs of vision, then drops from a number of artificial tears or corticosteroids are prescribed. Oral non-steroidal drugs are also allowed.
Episcleritis eye disease most often occurs against the background of another disease. Therefore, experts recommend treating not only the eyes, but also the disease, against which the inflammatory process in the eyes has developed.
What drugs are prescribed
Experts recommend first eliminating irritants that can cause an allergic reaction. With a disease such as episcleritis of the eye, the use of desensitizing agents, such as calcium chloride, diphenhydramine or cortisone, gives a good result.
If the main pathology is of a rheumatic nature, then salicylates and butadione are prescribed. For infections - drops with sulfonamides or antibiotics.
If the disease occurs against the background of a tuberculosis-allergic condition, then ftivazid and other anti-tuberculosis drugs are often prescribed.
In addition to the above drugs, the doctor may suggest treatment with herbal remedies, as well as prescribe physiotherapy.
