No abstract available.
Hyperplasia* ; Scleritis*

PURPOSE: To evaluate serologic tests and therapeutic drugs 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: Of a total of 26 patients, 5 patients (38.5%) with episcleritis and 7 patients (53.8%) with scleritis showed seropositivity. Rheumatoid factor (RF) (26.1%) and antinuclear antibody (ANA) (26.1%) were most commonly positive. Eleven patients (84.6%) with episcleritis group were given topical steroid, 3 patients (23.1%) were treated with systemic drugs due to ocular lesions, and 6 patients (46.2%) with systemic drug for underlying systemic diseases. In scleritis group, 11 patients (84.6%) were treated with topical steroid, 2 patients (15.4%) with systemic drugs for ocular lesions, and 7 patients (53.8%) with systemic drug for underlying systemic diseases. An average period of treatment time was 6.4 weeks in episcleritis and 11.1 weeks in scleritis. CONCLUSIONS: Serologic tests help document the underlying disorders in patients with scleritis and in those with persistent or often recurred episcleritis. Also treatment of episcleritis and scleritis requires understanding possible effects of systemic drugs adminstered for underlying disorder on ocular lesion, and requires cooperation with internists and rheumatolgists.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Scleritis* ; Serologic Tests*

Posterior scleritis must be one of the most underdiagnosed treatable conditions in ophthalmology, partly because its manifestations are so protean and partly because the diagnosis is rarely considered. Although ultrasonography and computer tomogram are ancilliary tests, a careful examination of the posterior segment of the eye including the area of the ora serrata, macula and disc is essential to discover the presence of a posterior scleritis. We experienced prolonged retinal pigment epithelial detachments which had appered at early phase of posterior scleritis.
Bruch Membrane ; Diagnosis ; Ophthalmology ; Retinal Detachment* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Scleritis* ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: To assess the proper differential diagnosis and treatment of scleritis with scleral melt following pterygium excision. METHODS: A retrospective study through a review of medical records of 5 patients diagnosed with surgically induced necrotizing scleritis (SINS) after pterygium excision and treated with systemic immunosuppressant and steroid. RESULTS: All the patients responded to the treatment and showed significant improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Immunosuppressive treatment without surgical intervention is effective in resolution of SINS after pterygium excision.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Pterygium* ; Retrospective Studies ; Scleritis*

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.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Retrospective Studies ; Scleritis* ; Visual Acuity

Rarely necrotizing scleritis has been reported as a complication of the pterygiectomy and author experienced that three cases of the scleral ulcerations developed after pterygiectomy were successfully treated by medical management. The cases had histories of beta irradiation, instillation of mitomycin and cauterization with silver nitrate solution respectively during the post operative course for the purpose of preventing recurrence. The ulcer showed small punched-out scleral lesions 3 X 4, 5 X 8, and 3 X 5mm. respectively in size and situated just anterior to the insertion of the medial rectus muscle. The sclera is essentialiy collagenous, avascular and scanty of cellular components thus a proliferative reaction to injury rarely occurs, but rather healing is primarily dependent on neighbouring mesenchymal tissue. Beta ray and mitomycin suppress the mitotic activity and inhibit the healing process of the injuried sclera. It is stressed that caution should be exerted in application of noxious agents for the purpose of preventing recurrence especially in the bare scleral method, as these seemed not only to interfere with the healing of the collagen structures but sometimes resulting in a scleral ulceration.
Beta Particles ; Cautery ; Collagen ; Mitomycin ; Recurrence ; Sclera ; Scleritis* ; Silver Nitrate ; Ulcer

Rarely necrotizing scleritis has been reported as a complication of the pterygiectomy and author experienced that three cases of the scleral ulcerations developed after pterygiectomy were successfully treated by medical management. The cases had histories of beta irradiation, instillation of mitomycin and cauterization with silver nitrate solution respectively during the post operative course for the purpose of preventing recurrence. The ulcer showed small punched-out scleral lesions 3 X 4, 5 X 8, and 3 X 5mm. respectively in size and situated just anterior to the insertion of the medial rectus muscle. The sclera is essentialiy collagenous, avascular and scanty of cellular components thus a proliferative reaction to injury rarely occurs, but rather healing is primarily dependent on neighbouring mesenchymal tissue. Beta ray and mitomycin suppress the mitotic activity and inhibit the healing process of the injuried sclera. It is stressed that caution should be exerted in application of noxious agents for the purpose of preventing recurrence especially in the bare scleral method, as these seemed not only to interfere with the healing of the collagen structures but sometimes resulting in a scleral ulceration.
Beta Particles ; Cautery ; Collagen ; Mitomycin ; Recurrence ; Sclera ; Scleritis* ; Silver Nitrate ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ocular manifestations of patients with rheumatic disease and dry eye symptom. METHODS: We analized the results of ocular examinations and complications of 78 rheumatoid disease patients who were refered for dry eye symptom from the general medicine from 1998, May to 1999, May. RESULTS: Ocular complications were seen in 47 patients (60.3%). Keratoconjunctivitis sicca was the most common ocular finding (48.7%). Other lesions were episcleritis, scleritis, peripheral corneal erosion, marginal keratitis, stromal corneal opacity, and so on. Thirty six patients (46.2%) showed sero-positivity for RA, ANA or CRP. The result was 6.87+/-4.44 mm (mean+/-standard deviation) in Schirmer test,6.64+/-2.27 sec in Tear Film Break Up Time (TBUT). Among sero-positive patients, Schirmer test was 5.46+/-4.05 mm and TBUT was 5.64+/-2.38 sec, while among sero-negatives the result was 8.21+/-4.33 mm, 7.40+/-1.89 sec respectively. It was statistically significant (P< 0.05). Schirmer test was 4.60+/-3.55 mm in RA positive, 2.50+/-1.60 mm in RA and ANA positive, 7.35+/-4.92 mm in CRP positive. TBUT was 5.57+/-2.39 sec, 4.00+/-1.31 sec, 5.69+/-2.04 sec in each group. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular complications were increased in rheumatoid patients, especially with sero-positive for RA, ANA or CRP. The results of Schirmer test and TBUT were most decreased in patients with RA and ANA positivity.
Corneal Opacity ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca ; Rheumatic Diseases* ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Scleritis ; Tears

PURPOSE: We report a case of orbital pseudotumor developed in an anophthalmic socket, presenting no typical symptoms or signs. METHODS: A 67-year-old woman was referred for treatment of necrotizing scleritis of her left eye and painful orbital pseudotumor of her right eye. The right eye had been removed 10 years previously. There was an irregular mass in superomedial portion of anterior orbit. Orbital MRI showed poorly defined T1 iso and low T2 signal intensity of a lesion in the medial anterior portion of the right orbit. Because systemic steroid administration was limited, 2 mg of betamethasone was injected locally, after which the size of the lesion was decreased and the orbital pain improved. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of an orbital pseudotumor developed in an anophthalmic socket may be difficult because of the lack of typical eyeball-related signs or symptoms such as proptosis, red eye, or decreased vision. But, the easy access to the lesion can provide early and effective treatment through direct injection of glucocorticoid.
Aged ; Anophthalmos* ; Betamethasone ; Diagnosis ; Exophthalmos ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Orbit* ; Orbital Pseudotumor ; Scleritis

PURPOSE: Relapsing polychondritis is a progressive inflammatory disorder of unknown cause affecting predominantly the cartilage of the ears, nose, and tracheobronchial tree as well as internal structures of the eyes and nose. Episcleritis is the most common ocular manifestation. We experienced a case of relapsing polychondritis with episcleritis and it's treatment. Therefore, we report this case with literature review. METHODS: Seventy-year-old woman presented with ocular pain and redness in right eye which had developed one week before. She had bilateral auricular chondritis, vertigo, saddle nose deformity, polyarthritis and respiratory difficulty. Relapsing polychondritis was diagnosed by typical clinical features. RESULTS: The patient was started on systemic steroid therapy and 0.1% dexamethasone in the right eye four times daily as well as oral ibuprofen 600 mg four times daily, which were slowly tapered off over the next four weeks with the resolution of the episcleritis.
Arthritis ; Cartilage ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Dexamethasone ; Ear ; Female ; Humans ; Ibuprofen ; Nose ; Polychondritis, Relapsing* ; Scleritis* ; Vertigo