Causes of Episcleritis

The cause of episcleritis is often obscure, but it represents a derangement of the immune system. You might think of it as a strange kind of allergic reaction. Some people with episcleritis have an underlying medical problem, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. But most people with episcleritis have no such problems. Occasionally, a small piece of dirt or decaying material from the backyard may get in someone’s eye and trigger the reaction.Other people may have an underlying chronic blepharitis. Substances produced by the bacteria that become overgrown in this condition can cause a number of allergic types of reaction in the eye, one of which is episcleritis.Wearing contact lenses seems to increase the risk of episcleritis as well.