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Ocular hypertension and glaucoma incidence in patients with scleritis

  • Inflammatory Disorders
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Abstract

Background

Scleritis belongs to the group of chronic inflammatory eye diseases that may cause ocular hypertension (OHT) and secondary glaucoma (SG). Aim of this study was to identify the incidence and risk factors for OHT and SG with regard to the scleritis form.

Methods

Single-center retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients with scleritis.

Results

A total of 271 scleritis patients (161 women, mean age 51.0 ± 16.9 years) were enrolled. The median follow-up was 17.0 ± 21.4 months (range 6–116). Of these patients, 56 (21 %) showed an intraocular pressure (IOP) increase with an open chamber angle at any time during follow-up. Another four patients (7 %) had secondary angle-closure glaucoma. An increase in IOP was found more frequently in patients with necrotizing (42 %) than in those with posterior (30 %), nodular (18 %) or diffuse anterior scleritis (18 %, p = 0.022). Most patients (82 %) developed the pressure increase during acute scleritis episodes. Initially, 72 % of patients with increased IOP were classified as OHT; this figure had decreased to 56 % at the end of follow-up. In the course of disease, the IOP normalized in 13 %. The univariate analysis of risk factors showed an increased risk in the presence of anterior uveitis, peripheral ulcerative keratitis, posterior synechiae, and previous cataract surgery.

Conclusions

An increase in IOP occurs in about one-fifth of patients with scleritis. The initial pressure elevation occurs mostly in the acute phase of disease. An increase in pressure is found most often in patients with necrotizing scleritis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, St. Franziskus-Hospital Muenster, Hohenzollernring 74, 48145, Muenster, Germany

    Carsten Heinz, Nadine Bograd, Joerg Koch & Arnd Heiligenhaus

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Duisburg- Essen, Essen, Germany

    Carsten Heinz & Arnd Heiligenhaus

Authors
  1. Carsten Heinz
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  2. Nadine Bograd
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  3. Joerg Koch
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  4. Arnd Heiligenhaus
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carsten Heinz.

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The authors have full control of all primary data, and agree to allow Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology to review their data upon request.

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Heinz, C., Bograd, N., Koch, J. et al. Ocular hypertension and glaucoma incidence in patients with scleritis. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 251, 139–142 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-012-2108-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-012-2108-3

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