Assessment of clinical characteristics of patients with scleritis accompanied by episcleritis

Objective: To evaluate the demographic data, clinical characteristics, eye complications of patients diagnosed with scleritis complicated with episcleritis. Methods: This retrospective case-series study consisting of 84 cases diagnosed with scleritis complicated with episcleritis in the People’s Hospital of Guangxi. The medical history, health status, clinical manifestations and characteristics, eye complications were evaluated to summarize clinical characteristics of this complicated disease. Results: Eighty four patients, aged 5-78 years, mean age (48 ± 15) years, 28 males and 56 females, were recruited in this clinical trial. Thirty four patients had episcleritis and 50 had scleritis. Among 84 cases, two children were aged < 16 years old and had episcleritis, 36 cases aged 17-44 years including 12 episcleritis and 24 scleritis, 28 aged 45-59 years including 8 episcleritis and 20 scleritis and 18 aged ≥ 60 years including 12 episcleritis and 6 scleritis. Eighteen cases had different types of arthritis, and 9 had topical infectious diseases. Eye complications were more frequent overall in patients with scleritis versus in those with episcleritis, including keratitis and ocular hypertension. Conclusions: Scleritis is a rare and potentially life-threatening disease, which occurs in individuals of all ages especially in adults. More and more attention should be paid to the diagnosis and treatment of scleritis complicated with episcleritis.