MODEL RELEASED. Inflamed white of the eye. Eye of a patient with episcleritis, the inflammation (red area) of the sclera, the white of the eye. This condition is most common in middle-aged women. It may cause mild pain or tenderness, excessive watering of the eye or sensitivity to light. The cause is often not known, although it may be linked to autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, or tuberculosis. The condition usually resolves itself after 2-3 days, although treatment with corticosteroid eye drops may be needed.