Triamcinolone may be safe for non-necrotising anterior scleritis

This retrospective study included 12 patients (16 eyes) with non-necrotising anterior scleritis who received subconjunctival triamcinolone injection after failing systemic therapy. A total of 25 injections were administered over a two-year period.

At a mean follow-up of nine months, complete resolution of symptoms and signs of scleral inflammation had occurred after 23 of the 25 total injections administered, with an increase of oral corticosteroids required to obtain complete resolution after the remaining two injections. Scleritis relapsed in 38 percent of eyes and required repeat subconjunctival triamcinolone therapy. No treated eye lost vision and no patient developed scleral necrosis. Four patients developed a mild rise in intraocular pressure.

The authors concluded that this study provides further evidence that subconjunctival triamcinolone therapy is a potentially useful treatment for patients with non-necrotising anterior scleritis that is refractory to initial therapy. However, the results should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of cases, the retrospective nature of the study, the relatively short follow-up period, and the potential for selection and recruitment bias due to the use of a tertiary referral centre.