What does scleritis mean?
Scleritis is a medical term for inflammation of the sclera, the tough, white outer covering of the eyeball. It is distinct from the more common redness caused by irritation or blood vessels visible on the eye’s surface, and it can involve considerable pain, light sensitivity, and tenderness around the eye. Scleritis may occur as part of another inflammatory condition or as an independent disorder, so diagnosis generally requires examination by an ophthalmologist and sometimes additional medical assessment. The word is specialized and is primarily used in clinical contexts rather than everyday speech. Although “scleral inflammation” conveys the meaning in plain language, scleritis is the established medical term for this condition. The word derives from the Greek skleros, meaning “hard,” reflecting the sclera’s tough structure, together with the suffix -itis, meaning inflammation.
nounScleritis is inflammation of the sclera, the tough white outer covering of the eyeball. It is a medical condition that can cause eye pain, redness, and sensitivity to light.
- Inflammation of the sclera, the white outer layer of the eyeball.
"She was referred to an ophthalmologist after being diagnosed with scleritis."
"Scleritis can be extremely painful and may require specialist treatment."
"The patient’s recurring eye redness was eventually diagnosed as scleritis."
The formal medical plural is used mainly in specialist writing; in ordinary clinical prose, singular mass usage such as “scleritis is present” is common.
"Severe scleritides can lead to permanent changes in the shape of the eye."
Scleritis affects the eye’s tough white coat, making the eyeball look inflamed rather than bloodshot.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does scleritis come from?
Scleritis is formed from the English sclera, from Greek skleros, meaning “hard,” with the suffix -itis, a medical term denoting inflammation. The same Greek root appears in related words such as sclerosis and scleroderma. In English, scleritis has been used since the 19th century in medical writing.
Related word forms
How scleritis is actually used
This is a specialized medical term, used mainly in ophthalmology and clinical writing. It should not be used as a general term for redness or irritation of the eye.