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  • Title: Epidemiology of episcleritis and scleritis in urban Australia.
    Author: Thong LP, Rogers SL, Hart CT, Hall AJ, Lim LL.
    Journal: Clin Exp Ophthalmol; 2020 Aug; 48(6):757-766. PubMed ID: 32279425.
    Abstract:
    IMPORTANCE: The epidemiology of episcleritis and scleritis in Australia is largely unknown. BACKGROUND: To determine the incidence, prevalence and clinical characteristics of episcleritis and scleritis in Melbourne. DESIGN: Retrospective longitudinal study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged ≥18 years with episcleritis or scleritis seen at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital from November 2014 to October 2015. METHODS: Medical record review confirmed clinical diagnosis and characteristics. Incidence and prevalence were calculated using estimates of the adult population in areas of Melbourne with ≥30 ocular presentations/year to the emergency department. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Diagnosis of active episcleritis or scleritis, aetiology, ocular complications and treatments. RESULTS: From a general population of 3 408 068, we confirmed 149 new and 23 pre-existing cases of active episcleritis, and 35 new and 23 pre-existing cases of active scleritis. Incidence per 100 000 person-years was 4.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.7-5.1) for episcleritis and 1.0 (95% CI 0.7-1.4) for scleritis, while 12-month prevalence was 5.1 (95% CI 4.3-5.9) and 1.7 (1.3-2.2) per 100 000 persons, respectively. Systemic disease was associated with 10% of episcleritis compared with 34% of scleritis (P < .001). Ocular complications were seen in 3% (6/184) of episcleritis eyes and 44% (32/72) of scleritis eyes, with the commonest being anterior uveitis (12/72) and ocular hypertension (14/72). At presentation, scleritis patients were commonly treated with oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (60%) and prednisolone (19%). By 12 months, 24% of scleritis patients required immunosuppressants. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Rates of episcleritis and scleritis in our single-centre Australian study were low. Episcleritis was usually benign, whereas scleritis had increased ocular complications and systemic disease.
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