Thermography in posterior scleritis
Aim: to evaluate the utility of thermography in posterior scleritis (PS). Patients and Methods: this prospective observational case-control study included 6 patients with monolateral PS (study group) and 10 healthy volunteers (control group). Ocular surface temperature (OST) was measured in all participants using a non-contact thermal camera (FLIR™) integrated onto a smartphone (CAT S 60). The difference in OST between the affected eye and the healthy (fellow) eye on thermograms (At) was measured at each visit in both groups. Maximum (AtMax) and minimum (AtMin) At for each eye as well as the amplitude of fluctuations (ampAt) referred to as the difference between AtMax and AtMin were calculated for each eye. AmpAt was compared between the groups. Results: in a total of 6 PS patients, B-scan ultrasonography revealed the thickening of the posterior sclera. Choroidal folds (n=4), internal limiting membrane fold (n=2), subretinal fluid (n=3), and optic disc edema (n=2) were identified by eye fundus exam. At presentation, At was maximum in all PS patients and reduced unequally after starting treatment. Mean ampAt was 1.21 °C (1.47-1.04 °C) in PS group and 0.44 °C (0.13-0.63 °C) in the control group. 3 out 6 PS patients were diagnosed with recurrences as demonstrated by OST spikes compared to previous measurements. Conclusion: this article describes a novel technique of the measurement and monitoring of OST. It was demonstrated that PS is associated with the increase in OST measured by thermography. Further large-scale studies are needed to evaluate the potentialities of thermography for detecting occult or subclinical intraocular inflammation.