What treatment(s) or medication(s) have you received for your scleritis?
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What is the treatment for scleritis?
Treatment of scleritis resulting from an underlying disease process usually requires specific therapy for that disease.
Topical treatment with eye drops is an adjunct to such systemic treatment. These eye drops will usually be anti-inflammatory, such as topical steroid drops or topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drops (NSAIDs). Topical antibiotics are used if the scleritis is felt to be infectious.
In situations where no underlying disease process is found, eye drops to counter inflammation are used, but they are often insufficient to control the process. Systemic treatment with NSAIDs, cortisone medication (corticosteroids), or immune modulating agents such as methotrexate (MTX) can be the first choice. But azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide, or cyclosporine are also used. Anti-TNF agents such as the biologics infliximab (Remicade) or adalimumab (Humira) can also be used.
Localized, subconjunctival steroid injections are often helpful in certain situations or if systemic side effects of these drugs are of concern.
Rarely, surgical procedures may be required if there is scleral thinning. In order to preserve the integrity of the eye, scleral grafts available through eye banks can be used.
Corneal tissue may also be used if there is perforation or severe thinning in the limbal area.