Sign
Episcleritis
A usually self-limited inflammation of the superficial tissue overlying the sclera, often seen as localized eye redness.
- Found
- On eye examination, typically as localized redness of the exposed white of the eye.
- Normal
- No focal redness or visible inflammation of the superficial tissue over the sclera.
- Abnormal
- Localized bright-red patch with mild irritation, tenderness, or discomfort; vision is generally preserved and discharge is usually absent.
- Suggests
- Inflammation of the episcleral tissue; it may be associated with systemic inflammatory or rheumatic disease.
The redness comes from inflammation in the superficial vascular layer between the conjunctiva and sclera. It is generally less painful than inflammation of the deeper sclera, and vision is usually unaffected. In a child being assessed for chronic diarrhea, it is an extraintestinal inflammatory finding to note alongside the bowel history, because systemic inflammatory or rheumatic disease can be involved.