Clinical profile of patients with anterior nodular scleritis in India

PURPOSE: To report the clinical profile of a series of anterior nodular scleritis in Indian population. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of medical records of 140 eyes of 123 consecutive patients with nodular scleritis who presented to a tertiary eye care institute between 2007 and 2018. RESULTS: The mean age at presentation was 46.8 ± 13.1 years and 70.7% of the patients were female. Bilateral involvement was observed in 14% patients. The most common presenting symptom was redness (92.6%) and ocular pain (69.1%). Twenty-seven patients (22%) had some systemic association and rheumatoid arthritis (5%) was the most common autoimmune disease. Presumed ocular tuberculosis was diagnosed in 13% patients. Methotrexate was the most common immunosuppressive used in these patients and an additional immunosuppressive was required in 6.5% patients. Recurrence of inflammation was observed in 74.8% patients. Deterioration of vision noted in 2.8% eyes. CONCLUSION: Tuberculosis remains an important cause of nodular scleritis in India. Recurrence of scleritis is common in nodular scleritis and cases with non infectious nodular scleritis often require treatment with immune suppressives.