episcleritis

1 9.9

Redness and swelling of the thin layer over the white of the eye

noun
/ˌɛpɪskləˈraɪtɪs/

Specialized

: episcleritis

Doctors differentiate between episcleritis and scleritis based on symptoms and severity of inflammation.

Examples

The doctor diagnosed her with episcleritis after examining her eyes.
The patient was diagnosed with episcleritis after complaining of redness and discomfort in her left eye.
Most cases of episcleritis resolve without treatment, but persistent cases may require medication.
He was relieved to learn that his condition was only episcleritis.
Episcleritis causes redness and discomfort in the affected eye due to inflammation of the episcleritis.
After experiencing persistent redness in his eye, the doctor diagnosed him with episcleritis.
Patients with episcleritis often report symptoms such as irritation and light sensitivity.

Surface Forms

episcleritis singular

episcleritides plural

Morphology

episcleritis = episclera (opaque) = epi + scler + itis

The formation uses specialized medical combining forms ('epi-' and 'scler-') and the suffix '-itis', which are not obvious to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Episcleritis breaks into three parts: epi- 'on', the same start as in epidermis; scler- from sclera, the white of the eye; and -itis 'inflammation', the same ending as in tonsillitis. So episcleritis means 'inflammation on the white of the eye'.