Episcleritis/scleritis

[deebrown30]

Another question I will try to keep it short.  Now let me go into detail as I am very confused now.  7 months ago I became very ill....leg weakness, muscle twitches, extreme fatigue, and severe vertigo.  Within days my right eye became red and very light sensitive and I also had many many floaters in it.  After about 10 weeks I went to the first eye md...he said scleritis and gave me an info book on Uveitis.  I started Pred Forte drops and after a few weeks my eye looked great and felt much better.....2 months later I woke up with the same feeling in my eye and it was red again.....this time a different location but the same eye.  I called to make an appt with the eye md and they said that i needed to see a Retinal Specialist because I was dxd with Uveitis.  So I go see him and he really doesnt tell me what it is but I assume from the same meds and same routine that it is Uveitis again.  Well this time when I came off the Pred Forte within 48 hours my eye was inflamed again but but minimal pain(mainly when I was in direct light).  So I went back to see him today and he said he felt that I have had episcleritis for the entire time.  Can the episcleritis be related to all of my other problems that I have had?  I know somehow this si all linked but i do not know how.  I also do not who to believe on this issue.  My first doctor looked in my eyes with slit lamp but also used some sort of drops and said he would check in 5 mins.  When he returned he said that my eye was still inflamed and that it was true scleritis....I guess I just want to know what can cause on going episcleritis ?

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

This all sounds like a little more than simple episcleritis which is more superficial and does not cause much internal inflamation (inflammation) like uveitis.  You obviously have some form of ocular inflammation whether you want to call it episcleritis, scleritis, uveitis or pan-uveitis - it all depends on the exact findings but all are similar in that they can have multiple possible causes and a properly directed medical workup is needed focused depending on your symptoms and findings and history.  Now, yes, these eye findings can definitely be related to systemic inflammatory conditions like arthritis, lupus, rheuamatoid arthritis, polymyalgia, ankylosing spondylitis and more.

MJK MD

[deebrown30]

Thanks Doctor!  I was in bed for 3 moths(April-June) almost every hour of the day  and from July-Aug I was in bed most of the time but was gaining some strength to do basic household and personal things.  I have never been as sick as I have been this year,  I still am unable to do a lot at any given time.  I just feel that my eye is related to it all because it all started at the same time.  My latest symptoms are 2 abnormal heart sounds and loss of monthly cycle.  I took a pregnancy test, even though I had tubes cut and burned in 2002, just for piece of mind.  It seems that I am falling apart at a young age of 34.  Thanks for all of your help!