title: Ocular hypertension and glaucoma incidence in patients with scleritis.
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.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, St. Franziskus-Hospital Muenster, Hohenzollernring 74, 48145 Muenster, Germany. carsten.heinz@gmx.net
authors: Carsten
authors: C
authors: Heinz
authors: Nadine
authors: N
authors: Bograd
authors: Joerg
authors: J
authors: Koch
authors: Arnd
authors: A
authors: Heiligenhaus
mesh_terms: D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015423:Scleritis / Q000150:complications*; D014606:Uveitis, Anterior / Q000150:complications