Episcleritis Causes: Know the Triggers
Episcleritis is an inflammatory condition. It affects the tissue between the conjunctiva and the sclera (the white part of the eye).
This condition is classified into two types: nodular and simple.
Most cases of Episcleritis are idiopathic. But it can also stem from various diseases and disorders.
It can even result from a few dermatological conditions.
Determining the correct causes of Episcleritis will help treat this condition.
Continue reading the article to learn more about Episcleritis causes.
What causes Episcleritis
Most Episcleritis cases are idiopathic. Yet 26% to 36% of the patients have a related systemic disorder that causes Episcleritis.
Episcleritis is an inflammatory eye condition.
It’s unknown what triggers the inflammation, which starts in the small blood vessels running on the eye’s surface.
Various health conditions can cause Episcleritis, some of which are mentioned below.
Collagen-Vascular diseases
Collagen vascular disease is a group of conditions that cause your connective tissues to be inflamed. Many of these diseases are autoimmune.
You might have a genetic collagen vascular disease once in a while.
These diseases don’t have a cure, but treatment can help with the symptoms. Some of these conditions are:
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory condition affecting the joints.
It can have several complications, including Episcleritis, Scleritis, and dry eye disease.
As many as 39% of people with RA can face these eye conditions. It is also one of the most common causes of Episcleritis.
A study shows nearly 25% of patients with inflammatory eye problems are associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Other forms of Arthritis that may cause Episcleritis are psoriatic and reactive arthritis.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis are two types of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
It causes swelling of the tissues in your digestive tract. As a result, it leads to abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition.
Around 10% of cases of IBD can result in eye problems like Episcleritis.
As their disease is controlled, the Episcleritis may also go away.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
It is a chronic disease that causes inflammation in connective tissues, such as cartilage and the lining of blood vessels.
Episcleritis is one of the symptoms of SLE.
Injection of the superficial blood vessels usually causes mild irritation and redness, if any.
Relapsing Polychondritis
It is a rare disease that can cause cartilage inflammation all over the body, especially in the ears, nose, joints, eyes, and throat.
This disease has flare-ups that come and go.
Relapsing Polychondritis can cause Episcleritis and is a symptom to look out for.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Some people with the autoimmune disease Ankylosing Spondylitis may experience Episcleritis.
However, uveitis and iritis are more common eye symptoms. Not everyone experiences eye inflammation.
Episcleritis is usually the last stage of uveitis or other eye inflammation in people with this condition.
It’s important to know if you have Episcleritis because the treatments for these conditions can differ.
Also Read: To learn about the best treatment options for Episcleritis, read our article, “Episcleritis Treatment: All You Need to Know“.
Dermatologic disease
Some dermatologic conditions may also cause Episcleritis. Some of them are
Rosacea
Nearly 60% of patients with Rosacea develop related problems affecting the eye (Ocular Rosacea).
Patients with Ocular Rosacea most commonly experience irritation of the lids and eyes.
Episcleritis is rare in Ocular Rosacea, but they cause a painful, watery red eye and may affect vision.
Sweet’s syndrome
It is a skin condition that is also called Acute Febrile Neutrophilic Dermatosis.
It causes fever and a painful skin rash on the arms, face, and neck.
Sweet’s syndrome can cause eye conditions such as Episcleritis.
It is also known to cause some other conditions, such as Conjunctivitis and Scleritis.
Vasculitides
It is an umbrella term for rare conditions that cause inflammation of the blood vessels.
These conditions differ depending on affected veins or arteries and in which areas of the body.
Here are some Vasculitides conditions that can cause Episcliritis:
Polyarteritis nodosa
Polyarteritis nodosa is a severe inflammatory blood vessel disease.
It causes swelling and damage to the small and medium-sized arteries.
It can cause several eye conditions, including Episcliritis. Its early diagnosis can even reduce mortality from this disease.
Cogan’s syndrome
Cogan’s syndrome is a rare autoimmune condition that affects the eyes and inner ears.
Episcleritis is one of the different symptoms of this syndrome. This condition can also cause irritation and pain in the eyes, decreased vision, hearing loss, and vertigo.
Cogan’s syndrome can be diagnosed by checking symptoms such as Episcleritis.
Churg-Strauss syndrome
Churg-Strauss syndrome is characterized by blood vessel inflammation.
This inflammation can restrict blood flow to organs and tissues, sometimes damaging them.
This rare condition can cause various eye conditions, such as Episcleritis.
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
It is a health condition that causes inflammation of the blood vessels.
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis can affect the ears, nose, throat, lungs, and kidneys.
Episcleritis is a relatively common result of this condition.
It runs a milder course which is generally self-limiting.
Behcet’s disease
Also known as Behcet’s syndrome is a rare disorder that causes inflammation in the blood vessels throughout your body.
Episcleritis is an uncommon complication resulting from pediatric Behçet’s disease.
Takeaway
Episcleritis is an idiopathic condition in most cases. However, various conditions can result in this eye condition.
Autoimmune and dermatological conditions can all result in the formation of Episcleritis in your eye.
Knowing the cause of it is essential as it will help doctors determine the right course of treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Episcleritis caused by stress?
Even though Episcleritis can result from stress in a few cases, there is a need for more studies regarding this. The exact cause of Episcleritis is unknown, but it can also result from other medical conditions such as Rheumatoid arthritis and IBS.
What causes Episcleritis to flare up?
There are various reasons for Episcleritis, such as autoimmune disorders, Vasculitides, and Collagen-Vascular diseases. It is essential to treat the underlying cause if they start to flare up.
Is Episcleritis serious?
Episcleritis is mainly benign. However, the underlying cause of the disease can be severe. Check with your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
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