Episcleritis of the eye: signs, causes, treatment

Epicleritis of the eye is a disease that is inflammatory. The disease has its own characteristics and requires therapy. This process affects the outer sclera, which is located between the internal sclera and conjunctiva. As a rule, the disease is benign. The disease is easy, but the propensity to relapse persists. The disease can periodically disturb the patient, hitting both eyes. In most cases, it cures itself.

Causes of the disease

Why there is an episcleritis of the eye? The causes of this disease could not be established precisely, since most people do not consult a doctor for such a disease. As studies show, epicleritis occurs in those who suffer from systemic diseases. The number of such cases is one third of all visits with a similar illness to the doctor. In 11% of patients, there was an increase in the amount of uric acid in the blood.

Often episcleritis of the eye is provoked by such diseases as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis. These ailments most often affect the connective tissue. This category includes ankylosing spondylitis and nodular polyarthritis.

Also, the development of episcleritis can be caused by diseases that are infectious in nature: viral, including herpes, parasitic, fungal, as well as Lyme disease, tuberculosis, syphilis.

There are other causes of the development of the disease: chemical exposure, foreign body, gout, T-cell leukemia, necrobiotic xanthogranulem, dermatomyositis, paraproteinaemia.

Symptoms

What does the eyes look like? Photo of the disease is presented above. At the moment, several forms of the disease are distinguished: nodular and simple. There is a migratory variant of the disease and rosacea-episcleritis.

A simple form is more common. Its main features:

1. Inflammatory process of severe or mild form.
2. Diffusive or local redness.
3. Painful sensations.
4. Photophobia.
5. Feeling of discomfort.
6. Transparent discharge from the eyes.

In autumn and spring, as well as with hormonal changes and stressful stresses, the symptoms described above appear more often.

Symptoms of nodular episcleritis

Nodular episcleritis is characterized by the formation of nodules of circular shape covered with hyperemic conjunctiva formed near the limbus. At the same time, the pain is more pronounced. The acute form of the disease can be replaced by periods of relief. At the same time, with every recurrence, the process can become very aggravated.

In extreme cases, there are signs of an ailment on the cornea: deepening saucer-like shape at the edge or in the form of peripheral infiltrates. In 10% of all cases, symptoms of anterior uvitis are noted - an inflammatory process that affects the vascular membrane of the organ of vision.

With this form, the disease does not cause tearing and photophobia.

Signs of a migratory form and rosacea-episcleritis

Epicleritis of the eye can be migratory. With this form, the focus of the inflammatory process can occur suddenly. In this case, the ailment can alternately manifest in one or the other eye. Most often this form is accompanied by angioedema and eyelid migraine. In a few days the symptoms may disappear.

Rosacea-epsleritis is manifested in the same way as the migrating form. In this case, the symptoms can be accompanied by damage to the cornea and pink acne on the skin, localized only on the face. According to 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, it is first of all worth visiting a doctor. In this case, you should consult an ophthalmologist. With the development of the disease, you should not worry much, because it is in a mild form and almost does not cause discomfort.

In some cases, the epicleritis of the eye arises imperceptibly for a person and also disappears unnoticeably. In such situations, treatment is reduced to waiting, when the ailment simply passes by itself. To speed up this process, the doctor can prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs.

In this case, the expert advises to avoid overexertion and provide the eyes with maximum peace. Otherwise, the state may deteriorate. If there is pain in the organs of vision, drops from a number of medications of artificial tears or corticosteroids are prescribed. Also, oral non-steroid agents are allowed.

Disease of the eyes epicleritis most often occurs against the background of another disease. Therefore, experts recommend treating not only the eyes, but also the ailment, against which the inflammatory process in the eyes developed.

What drugs are prescribed

Specialists recommend to start to eliminate irritants, which can cause the development of an allergic reaction. With such a disease as episcleritis of the eye, a good result is the use of desensitizing agents, for example, calcium chloride, dimedrol or cortisone.

If the main pathology is rheumatic in nature, then salicylates and butadion are prescribed. When infections - drops with sulfonamide drugs or antibiotics.

If the disease has occurred against the background of a tuberculosis-allergic condition, it is often prescribed ftivazid and other anti-tuberculosis drugs.

In addition to the above drugs, the doctor can offer treatment with phytopreparations, and also prescribe physiotherapy procedures.