Foreign body episcleral suture granulomas mimicking nodular anterior scleritis

Abstract

Scleritis is an idiopathic condition that may sometimes be associated with systemic immunological like disorders rheumatoid arthritis, Wegener’s granulomatosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. A variety of foreign material has been reported to result in granuloma formation in various parts of the body. We report a case of inflamed episcleral granulomas mimicking severe nodular anterior scleritis in a healthy Caucasian woman who underwent strabismus surgery in her childhood. Foreign body reaction on the episcleral/scleral surface is rare. It is extremely unusual for a non-absorbable suture that was used for childhood strabismus surgery to incite an acute inflammatory episode mimicking nodular anterior scleritis as in our case. As the strabismus surgery was performed 37 years prior to her presentation with anterior scleritis, we were unable to obtain any details of this surgical procedure. We presume that a non-absorbable suture like braided polyester or prolene may have been used.