ACTA FAC. MED. NAISS. 2005; 22 (2):101-106

Original article

 CLINICAL STUDY OF EPISCLERITIS AND SCLERITIS 

Jasmina Đorđević-Jocić,
Gordana Zlatanović,
Dragan Veselinović, Gordana
Stanković-Babić, Slađana Micić
Ophtalmology Clinic, Clinical Center Niš

    SUMMARY
   
    Episcleritis is a benign, inflammatory affection of deep subconjunctival tissue, including also the surface sclera lamellas. The disease occurs bilaterally or unilaterally. Scleritis is an inflammation involving deep layers of sclera, it is less frequent than episcleritis, but is a more serious disease.
    Rheumatoid arthritis is the most frequent disease associated with scleritis and episcleritis. Scleritis associated with systemic diseases have significantly more unfavorable course of a disease. Recurrences are more frequent and they last for years, but early diagnosis and fast treatment during the first attack decrease recurrence frequency. The objective of this study was to determine whether there were differences in the clinical picture of the patients affected with episcleritis and scleritis of unknown etiology (Group I) and those affected with episcleritis and scleritis with associated diseases (Group II). The average number of recurrences was 4,44 in the patients of group I and 6,36 of group II. Unilateral recurrences were present in 33,3% of the patients of group I, with recurrences on both eyes in 66,6% of the patients. In group II, alternating recurrences were present in 81,8% of the patients, but the difference was not statistically significant ( p>0.05) More frequent presence of diffusive type episcleritis and scleritis of unknown etiology was noticed in the patients. The medium time of recovery in the patients of group I was 4,93 and 7,17 in those of group II; there is statistically significant difference between the investigated groups, in favor of group II ( p< 0,05).

    Key words: episcleritis, scleritis, inflammatory affection, type