Isolated posterior scleritis associated with tuberculosis

Abstract

Ocular tuberculosis (TB) is considered to be rare, although its incidence has varied widely over time and in different populations. Latent TB is diagnosed when a person is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis but does not have active TB. During the last decade, interferon-gamma release assay tests have been developed that allow identification of patients with latent TB infection with better specificity than the tuberculin skin test and can differentiate between infection and prior vaccination. Although rare, tuberculous scleritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of posterior scleritis. Here we describe a patient with posterior scleritis and severe visual loss associated with latent TB without uveitis, anterior scleritis, keratitis, or any other previous ocular disease history. The patient responded well to a combined treatment of antitubercular therapy and oral corticosteroids.