Postoperative syphilitic scleritis following strabismus surgery

Syphilis can present with a wide range of ocular manifestations; however, scleritis is exceedingly rare. Although various infectious and noninfectious causes of scleritis following strabismus surgery have been documented, syphilitic scleritis has not been previously reported in this context. We present the case of a 77-year-old man who underwent bilateral horizontal strabismus surgery complicated by postoperative necrotizing scleritis. Initial postoperative treatment with antibiotics and oral corticosteroids did not lead to significant improvement. The patient underwent an extensive rheumatologic and infectious workup and was treated for latent syphilis, resulting in a marked improvement and quiescence of his scleritis.