Clinical features, prognosis, and treatment results of patients with scleritis from 2 tertiary eye care centers in Turkey.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the spectrum of scleritis from 2 tertiary eye care centers in Turkey.

METHODS

Data from 114 patients with scleritis (82 female and 32 male; mean age, 48 +/- 17.7 years; age range, 4-87 years; 47 diffuse, 49 nodular, 7 necrotizing, and 11 posterior) who had undergone treatment between 1995 and 2006 were recorded.

RESULTS

Mean follow-up duration was 16.9 months. Thirteen patients (12%) had bilateral ocular disease at presentation, and 21 patients (19%) developed bilateral ocular disease during follow-up. Decreased visual acuity was most common (60%) in posterior scleritis and least common (2%) in diffuse scleritis. Thirty-six patients (32%) had associated systemic disease, and in 13 patients (11%), scleritis was the presenting symptom of a systemic disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Scleritis is a form of ocular inflammation frequently associated with systemic autoimmune disease and ocular complications. Close follow-up, systemic evaluation, and timely treatment are necessary in all patients with scleritis.