Management with Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Agents

Abstract

Scleritis is a complex, destructive ocular inflammation, which may be progressive and vision threatening. A treatment challenge to practicing ophthalmologists, patients with scleritis require individualized care based on clinical response, disease severity, and consideration of the overall patient experience. The goal of therapy for scleritis is simple: achievement of a durable, lasting remission devoid of all forms of corticosteroid therapy. This, in the opinion of the authors, is the only potential avenue by which a patient with scleritis can reach a permanent disease-free state. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce and review the medical management of scleritis, with a focus on one variant of first-line therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). A working knowledge of management of patients with scleritis via NSAID therapy is absolutely essential for all practicing ophthalmologists.