Therapy of nonnecrotizing anterior scleritis with subconjunctival corticosteroid injection.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the safety and efficacy of subconjunctival triamcinolone (Kenalog) in treating nonnecrotizing anterior scleritis.


METHODS
The authors conducted a retrospective review of all patients treated with depot subconjunctival corticosteroid injection for scleritis from January 1988 to May 1993. Response to therapy was determined by subjective improvement in pain and a decrease in clinical signs of ocular inflammation. All patients received subconjunctival injections of triamcinolone by the same technique, and the minimum observation period for complications was 6 weeks.


RESULTS
Eighteen patients (90%) had relief of their symptoms with clinically observable improvement in inflammation, whereas two patients (10%) responded poorly. Nine patients (45%) required no further therapy. Average symptom-free interval was 18 weeks in patients with recurrent scleritis. No complications of scleral thinning, perforation, or glaucoma occurred in any patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Subconjunctival triamcinolone injection is highly efficacious in treating nonnecrotizing anterior scleritis without unreasonable risk of thinning and/or perforation and should be considered as adjunctive therapy in localized disease.
Tu
E Y
EY
Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, USA.
Culbertson
W W
WW
Pflugfelder
S C
SC
Huang
A
A
Chodosh
J C
JC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D003228:Conjunctiva; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012590:Sclera / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D015423:Scleritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D014221:Triamcinolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014221:Triamcinolone