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Episcleritis - Treatment

Treatment:

The condition usually disappears without treatment in 1 - 2 weeks. Treatment with corticosteroid eye drops may relieve the symptoms faster.

Expectations (prognosis):

Episcleritis usually improves without treatment. Treatment may shorten its duration.

Complications:

Rarely, scleritis may develop
The condition may return

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of episcleritis that last for more than 2 weeks. Get checked again if your pain worsens or you lose vision.

External and internal eye anatomy

Reviewed last on: 7/15/2008
Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Goldstein DA, Tessler HH. Episcleritis, Scleritis, and Other Scleral Disorders. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, Augsburger JJ, Azar DT. Yanoff: Ophthalmology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby; 2004:chap 64.

O'Day DM, Horn JD. The Eye and Rheumatic Disease. In: Harris ED, Budd RC, Genovese MC, Firestein GS, Sargent JS. Harris: Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2005:chap 44.

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