Sclera and Episclera Flashcards
sclera is ____% of the outer fibrous layer fo the globe
85
- sclera surrounds the globe
- extends from the ____ anteriorly to the ____ posteriorly
- merges with the _____
limbus;
optic nerve;
dural sheath of the optic nerve
3 layers of the sclera (outer to inner)
- episclera
- sclera
- lamina fusca
episclera:
- thin, outermost region of the sclera
- inner to ____
- merges with ____ and ____ 3 mm from the limbus
- composed of ____
- highly _____
Tenon’s capsule;
Tenon’s capsule; conjunctiva;
loose connective tissue (fibroblasts, collagenous fibers, ground substance);
vascularized (vessels are visible through the transparent conjunctiva
sclera:
- inner to ____
- composed of _____
- collagen type ____ is predominant
- arrangement of collagen contributes to strength and rigidity and white, opaque color
- elastin is abundant deeper in the sclera, especially near the rectus muscle insertions and more posteriorly
episclera;
thick, dense connective tissue (fibroblasts, collagenous fibers, elastic fibers, ground substance);
1
lamina fusca:
- innermost aspect of the sclera
- adjacent to the ____
- modified ____
- contains large number of _____ that migrate from the choroid, giving it a _____
choroid;
scleral stroma;
melanocytes;
brown color
diameter of sclera for an emmetropic human adult eye:
- ____ horizontal
- ____ vertical
- ____ anteroposterior
~24.2 mm;
~23.7 mm;
~22.0-24.8 mm
sclera is thickest _____, decreases in thickness as it approaches _____, thinnest _____, increases in thickness _____, continues to increase in thickness toward the ____
posteriorly near the optic nerve; the equator of the globe; under the rectus muscles just before their insertion; at the muscle insertion site; limbus
blood supply of sclera:
- supplied by the ____
- vessels supplying the recuts muscles continue anteriorly as the _____
- form the _____ just anteriorly to the rectus muscle insertions
- capillaries are in the ____
- ____ is considered avascular (no capillaries)
- form a superficial and deep ____
- ____ is mobile
- ____ is non-mobile
- both are visible through the transparent conj
episcleral arterial circle; anterior ciliary arteries; episcleral arterial circle; episclera; sclera; episcleral plexus; superficial episcleral plexus; deep episcleral plexus
- sclera provides a strong, tough external framework to ____
- it maintains ____ by offering resistance to ____
- insertion site for ____
protect the delicate intraocular structures;
the shape of the globe;
internal and external forces;
EOMs
____ in the sclera allow nerves and blood vessels to enter and exit the globe
apertures and foramen
simple episcleritis
inflammation of the episclera involving the superficial episcleral plexus
nodular episcleritis
inflammation of the episclera involving the superficial episcleral plexus with an associated nodule
episcleritis etiology/associations
- idiopathic in 60% of cases
- collagen vascular disease and vasculitis; most common diseases include RA, SLE, GPA, PAN, Behcet’s
- systemic infection; most common infections include herpes simplex, herpes zoster, lyme, syphilis, TB
- others (topiramte, rosacea, atopy, gout, sarcoid, IBD, reactive arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis)
episcleritis demographics
- typically occurs between the ages of 20-40 years
- women > men
episcleritis laterality
unilateral or bilateral
episcleritis symptoms
- red eye(s)
- mild eye pain
episcleritis signs
- sectoral episcleral injection; can be diffuse (less common); episcleral vessels are large, course in radial direction, can be moved with a cotton swab and blanch with phenyl
- some secondary involvement of overlying conj vessels
- chemosis (edema) in the area of injection
- mobile nodule in nodular episcleritis
- rarely, AC rxn (cells/flare) may be present
episcleritis management
- self-limiting within days to weeks; cold compresses and topical lubricants for palliative therapy; mild topical steroid; oral NSAIDs as an alternative to topical steroids (some prefer)- ibuprofen or naproxen
- if infectious etiology, treat with appropriate anti-infective
- if bilateral, recurrent, or nodular and etiology is unknown, order lab work based on the most likely etiologies; initial episodes of unilateral simple episcleritis without systemic symptoms do not require lab testing
- if systemic etiology, refer out for systemic treatment
episcleritis pearls
- simple episcleritis ____% of cases vs nodular ____%
- simple episcleritis typically lasts ____ while nodular episcleritis can last ____
- nodular episcleritis is more likely associated with ____
- ____ can aid in differentiating between episcleritis and scleritis; instill and reexamine after 10-15 mins; vessels blanch in ____ but not in ____
80; 20 a few days; for weeks; systemic disease; phenylephrine; episcleritis; scleritis
diffuse anterior scleritis
inflammation of the anterior sclera involving the deep episcleral plexus
nodular anterior scleritis
inflammation of the anterior sclera involving the deep episcleral plexus with an associated nodule
anterior scleritis etiology/associatons
- idiopathic in 40% of cases
- collagen vascular disease and vasculitis (50% of cases); most common diseases include RA, SLE, GPA, PAN
- systemic infection; most common infections include herpes simplex, herpes zoster, lyme, syphilis, TB
- others (e.g., gout, sarcoid, IBD, reactive arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis)
anterior scleritis demographics
- typically occurs between the ages of 40-60 years
- women > men
anterior scleritis laterality
unilateral or bilateral
anterior scleritis symptoms
- red eye(s)
- severe, deep, boring eye pain; awakens at night; may radiate to adjacent facial regions (forehead, brow, jaw, or sinuses); worsens during eye movement; may have tearing
anterior scleritis signs
- scleral injection; may be sectoral or diffuse; scleral vessels are large, deep vessels that cannot be moved with a cotton swab and do not blanch with phenyl
- some secondary involvement of overlying episcleral and conj vessels
- chemosis (edema) in the area of injection
- sclera is violaceous in color, due to inflammation in deeper tissues
- immobile nodule in nodular scleritis
- with recurrent episodes, may see areas of scleral thinning (appears blue-gray)
- may have an AC rxn
anterior scleritis complications
- inflammation of adjacent cornea (peripheral keratitis)
- glaucoma (secondary to increased IOP from increased episcleral venous pressure or trabeculitis)
anterior scleritis management
- infectious: treat with appropriate anti-infective
- non-infectious: oral NSAIDS- naproxen or indomethacin usually, several NSAIDs may be tried before therapy is considered a failure; oral steroids; IV steroids for severe cases; oral immunosuppressants for long-term therapy
- if etiology is unknown, order lab work based on the most likely etiologies
- if systemic etiology, refer out for systemic treatment
anterior scleritis pearls:
- most common type of scleritis is ____
- may last ____
- ____ is most common systemic association of scleritis
- violaceous color is best seen in ____
- if associated with orbital inflammation, may be part of _____
- usually does not respond to _____
diffuse anterior; months or years; RA; natural light by gross inspection orbital pseudotumor; topical therapy (Durezol has been shown to work in mild cases)
anterior necrotizing scleritis w/ inflammation
severe form of anterior scleritis with associated necrosis
anterior necrotizing scleritis w/ inflammation etiology/associations
- collagen vascular disease and vasculitis; most common diseases include RA, SLE, GPA, PAN
- systemic infection; most common infections include herpes simplex, herpes zoster, lyme, syphilis, TB
- others (e.g., gout, sarcoid, IBD, reactive arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis)
anterior necrotizing scleritis w/ inflammation demographics
- typically occurs between the ages of 40-60 years
- women > men
anterior necrotizing scleritis w/ inflammation laterality
unilateral or bilateral
anterior necrotizing scleritis w/ inflammation symptoms
- red eye(s)
- extreme pain; awakens the patient at night; may radiate to adjacent facial structures (forehead, brow, jaw, or sinuses); worsens during eye movement; may have tearing
anterior necrotizing scleritis w/ inflammation signs
- anterior scleritis progresses to isolated patches of scleral edema with overlying non-perfused episclera and conjunctiva (appears white); patches can coalesce and rapidly proceed to progressive scleral necrosis (appears blue-gray)
- may have an AC rxn
anterior necrotizing scleritis w/ inflammation complications
- inflammation of the adjacent cornea (peripheral keratitis)
- glaucoma (secondary to increased IOP from increased EVP or trabeculitis)
- scleral perforation
anterior necrotizing scleritis w/ inflammation management
- infectious: treat with appropriate anti-infective
- non-infectious: oral steroids, IV steroids for severe cases, oral immunosuppressants for long-term therapy
- if etiology is unknown, order lab work based on the most likely etiologies
- if systemic etiology, refer out for systemic treatment
- recommend glasses or eye shield for protection
- if scleral perforation occurs, refer out for surgery- scleral patch graft
anterior necrotizing scleritis w/ inflammation pearls:
-if associated with rheumatoid arthritis, associated with ____
increased mortality due to coronary arteritis or cerebral angiitis
anterior necrotizing scleritis w/o inflammation (scleromalacia perforans)
necrosis of the anterior sclera
anterior necrotizing scleritis w/o inflammation (scleromalacia perforans) etiology/associations
high association with RA
anterior necrotizing scleritis w/o inflammation (scleromalacia perforans) demographics
- typically occurs between ages of 40-60 years
- women > men
anterior necrotizing scleritis w/o inflammation (scleromalacia perforans) laterality
unilateral or bilateral
anterior necrotizing scleritis w/o inflammation (scleromalacia perforans) symptoms
no to minimal symptoms
anterior necrotizing scleritis w/o inflammation (scleromalacia perforans) signs
necrotic scleral plaques (appears blue-gray) near the limbus without surrounding inflammation
anterior necrotizing scleritis w/o inflammation (scleromalacia perforans) complications
scleral perforation
anterior necrotizing scleritis w/o inflammation (scleromalacia perforans) management
- oral steroids
- IV steroids for severe cases
- oral immunosuppressants for long-term therapy
- if etiology is unknown, order lab work based on the most likely etiologies
- if systemic etiology, refer out for systemic treatment
- recommend glasses or eye shield for protection
- if scleral perforation occurs, refer out for surgery- scleral patch graft
anterior necrotizing scleritis w/o inflammation (scleromalacia perforans) pearls:
- rare, only ____% of scleritis
- if associated with rheumatoid arthritis, associated with _____
4;
increased mortality due to coronary arteritis or cerebral angiitis
anterior necrotizing scleritis w/o inflammation (scleromalacia perforans): other etiologies for a blue-gray sclera
- age-related scleral thinning (usually near recti muscle insertions)
- genetic defect in collagen synthesis (ex: Ehler’s Danlos, osteogenesis imperfecta)
- drug toxicity (ex: minocycline)
- Axenfeld loop (long ciliary nerve that courses anteriorly through the sclera before looping back to course to the ciliary body)
- oculo(dermal) melanocytosis
posterior scleritis
inflammation of the posterior sclera (posterior to insertion of rectus muscles)
posterior scleritis etiology/associations
- idiopathic
- collagen vascular disease and vasculitis; most common diseases include RA, SLE, GPA, PAN
- systemic infection; most common infections include herpes simplex, herpes zoster, lyme, syphilis, TB
- others (e.g., gout, sarcoid, IBD, reactive arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis)
posterior scleritis demographics
- typically occurs between the ages of 40-60 years
- women > men
posterior scleritis laterality
unilateral > bilateral
posterior scleritis symptoms
- minimal to no eye redness
- severe, boring eye pain; awakens the patient at night; may radiate to adjacent facial regions (forehead, brow, jaw, or sinuses); worsens during eye movement; may have tearing
- blurred vision
posterior scleritis signs
- chorioretinal folds
- proptosis
- restricted motility
- hyperopia (sometimes will see an increase)
- peripapillary T sign on B scan- fluid between Tenon’s capsule and sclera creates a squaring off of the interface between the ON and sclera
posterior scleritis complications
- choroidal detachment
- retinal pathology (hemes, exudative RD, CME)
- optic disc edema
- glaucoma (secondary to increased IOP from increased EVP, trabeculitis, angle closure)
posterior scleritis management
- infectious: treat with appropriate anti-infective
- non-infectious: oral NSAIDS (several may be tried before therapy is considered a failure), oral steroids, IV steroids for severe cases, oral immunosuppressants for long-term therapy
- if etiology is unknown, order lab work based on the most likely etiologies
- if systemic etiology, refer out for systemic treatment
posterior scleritis pearls:
- posterior scleritis occurs ______ frequently than anterior scleritis
- rarely, an extension of _____
much less;
anterior scleritis
jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia)
excessive bilirubin (orange-yellow pigment) in the blood
jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia) etiology/associations
- liver dysfunction (bilirubin is metabolized by the liver so it can be excreted in urine and stool)
- bile duct obstruction (bile, a fluid produced by the liver, is transported through ducts directly to the small intestine to help digest fats, bilirubin is a component of bile)
- hemolytic anemia (excessive breakdown of RBCs)(bilirubin is produced during normal breakdown of RBCs)
jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia) demographics
- depends on etiology
- newborn to adult
jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia) laterality
bilateral
jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia) symptoms
yellow discoloration of the eyes and skin
jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia) signs
- sclera icterus (diffuse yellowing of the sclera)
- yellowing of the skin starting from the head down
jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia) management
refer out for systemic treatment
jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia) pearls:
- affects ____% of term newborns and ___% of premature babies
- due to _____
- usually resolves by the first week of life
60; 80;
immaturity of the liver or decreased elimination of urine and stool (due to difficulty with breastfeeding)