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Necrotizing scleritis and transient myopia following strabismus surgery
S A Gross1, G K von Noorden, D B Jones
1Cullen Eye Institute, Houston, Tex.
Ophthalmic Surgery
|December 1, 1993
Summary
Necrotizing scleritis, an eye inflammation, can occur after surgery. This case study details its management following strabismus surgery, noting transient myopia as a new observation.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Surgical Complications
- Inflammatory Eye Disease
Background:
- Necrotizing scleritis is a severe inflammatory condition affecting the sclera, often occurring post-ocular surgery, particularly after cataract extraction.
- Strabismus surgery, while aimed at correcting eye alignment, carries potential risks including the development of serious complications like necrotizing scleritis.
Observation:
- A 60-year-old woman developed necrotizing scleritis after strabismus surgery for gaze palsy and sixth-nerve paresis post-stroke.
- Unlike typical cases, this patient showed no evidence of an underlying autoimmune process.
- The patient experienced transient myopia, a symptom not previously documented in necrotizing scleritis.
Findings:
- Successful management of necrotizing scleritis was achieved using a combination of topical and systemic corticosteroids and ibuprofen.
- The treatment preserved good visual acuity and successfully improved ocular alignment.
- The occurrence of transient myopia in this case represents a novel clinical observation for this condition.
Implications:
- This case highlights that necrotizing scleritis can occur after strabismus surgery, even without autoimmune markers.
- Effective control of inflammation and visual preservation are achievable with standard anti-inflammatory treatments.
- The identification of transient myopia expands the known clinical spectrum of necrotizing scleritis, suggesting further research into its pathophysiology and management.