What initial investigations are recommended for a patient with suspected scleritis?

For a patient with suspected scleritis, initial investigations are primarily conducted by an ophthalmologist following an urgent referral from primary care ²,³. Scleritis is a serious inflammatory eye condition, and similar to uveitis, its diagnosis requires specialist assessment ².

In primary care, the recommended action is to refer the patient for an immediate (same-day) or urgent (within 24 hours) ophthalmological assessment ²,³. This urgent referral is necessary because conditions like uveitis cannot be definitively diagnosed without a slit-lamp examination, which is typically not available in primary care settings ². During the specialist assessment, a slit-lamp examination with dilated pupils and measurement of intraocular pressure are crucial for confirming the diagnosis ². It is important that primary care does not initiate treatment for such conditions unless specifically advised by an ophthalmologist ².