inflammation. Treatment Medical In mild to moderate cases of scleritis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as flurbiprofen, indomethacin or ibuprofen may be prescribed for pain relief. Systemic corticosteroids like prednisolone may be used if NSAIDs are inappropriate or scleritis is posterior or necrotizing. Periocular steroid injections may be used in non-necrotizing scleritis, but it is contraindicated in necrotizing disease. If disease control is inadequate with steroids alone, immunosuppressives (Eg: cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate) and/or immunomodulators may be considered for treatment. In infective scleritis, if infective agent is identified, topical or systemic antibiotics may be prescribed. Surgical Intervention Surgery may be indicated if scleral perforation or excessive scleral thinning is present. Bandage contact lens or corneal glue may be used to repair damaged corneal tissue in the eye and preserve the patient's vision. If not treated, scleritis can cause blindness. Epidemiology Scleritis is not a common disease, although the exact prevalence and incidence are unknown. It is somewhat more common in women, and is most common in the fourth to sixth decades of life. References Rosenbaum JT. The Eye and rheumatic diseases. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Harris ED Jr, et al., eds. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 46. Watson P. Diseases of the sclera and episclera. In: Tasman W, Jaeger EA, eds. Duane’s Ophthalmology. 15th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009:chap 23. External links Disorders of sclera and cornea Inflammations Steroid-responsive inflammatory conditions