Diseases

Scleritis

Refers to any inflammation of the sclera including episcleritis, a benign condition affecting only the episclera, which is generally short-lived and easily treated. Classic scleritis, on the other hand, affects deeper tissue and is characterized by higher rates of visual acuity loss and even mortality, particularly in necrotizing form. Its characteristic symptom is severe and general head pain. Scleritis has also been associated with systemic collagen disease. Etiology is unknown but is thought to involve a local immune response. Treatment is difficult and includes administration of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agents such as corticosteroids. Inflammation of the sclera may also be secondary to inflammation of adjacent tissues, such as the conjunctiva.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Refers to any inflammation of the sclera including episcleritis, a benign condition affecting only the episclera, which is generally short-lived and easily treated. Classic scleritis, on the other hand, affects deeper tissue and is characterized by higher rates of visual acuity loss and even mortality, particularly in necrotizing form. Its characteristic symptom is severe and general head pain. Scleritis has also been associated with systemic collagen disease. Etiology is unknown but is thought to involve a local immune response. Treatment is difficult and includes administration of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agents such as corticosteroids. Inflammation of the sclera may also be secondary to inflammation of adjacent tissues, such as the conjunctiva.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

7 entry terms
  • Scleritides
  • Episcleritis
  • Necrotizing Scleritis
  • Episcleritides
  • Necrotizing Scleritides
  • Scleritides, Necrotizing
  • Scleritis, Necrotizing

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

35 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, congenital, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, urine, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

note entry term EPISCLERITIS

MeSH Record

History Note

89

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Inflammation (1966-1988)
  • Sclera (1966-1988)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. C11w.790.500w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Scleritis. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D015423. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D015423
  2. Scleritis. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scleritis
  3. Scleritis. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q511000