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Episcleritis

Reviewed 06/2022
 


BASICS

  • Episcleritis is irritation and inflammation of the episclera, a thin layer of tissue covering the sclera. It is not an infection.

  • Episcleritis is the localized inflammation of the vascular conne...

DIAGNOSIS

Episcleritis is a clinical diagnosis (1,2)[C]. 

HISTORY

  • History should elicit potential causative factors, recurrence, or associated systemic disease (2).

  • Pain is often absent; when present, ...

TREATMENT

MEDICATION

Treatment for episcleritis typically consists of symptomatic relief. The goal is to suppress the inflammation, which will, in turn, relieve the discomfort or pain (5). 

First Line

T...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Episcleritis is usually self-limited (up to 21 days) and does not typically require follow-up. 

PROGNOSIS

Most patients have no ocular complications and make a full...

REFERENCES

1
Sainz de la Maza  M, Molina  N, Gonzalez-Gonzalez  LA, et al. Clinical characteristics of a large cohort of patients with scleritis and episcleritis. Ophthalmology....

CODES

ICD10

  • H15.109 Unspecified episcleritis, unspecified eye

  • H15.129 Nodular episcleritis, unspecified eye

  • H15.102 Unspecified episcleritis, left eye

  • H15.101 Unspecified episcleritis, right eye

  • H15.103 Un...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Episcleritis typically is a benign, self-limited disorder, usually resolving within 3 weeks of symptom onset

  • Often not painful and presents without decrease in visual acuity.

  • Although tr...

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