This AM I went for my yearly vision exam with the Opthamoligist. I had not seen him since I was diagnosed with RA last summer. Anyway, he said that 20% of pts with RA develop inflammation in their eyes from the RA. This is 1 in 5 pts. He said to watch for visual changes and reddness. If this occurs you need to get in to be seen ASAP.
Just wanted to share this with you. I seem to learn something everyday about this disease.
Lesle
I was diagnosed this summer with ra and was sent to a eye guy because I got migraines with it he told me I have sjorgens syndrom which is a secondary condition with ra it explaines alot of things my eyes are very dry my whole body is lots of dental work in last year so it does affect your eyes if you ever notice when or just before you flare your eyes will feel like sand in them.........................TERESAI'm waiting for the official diagnosis but I suffer from night blindness which they said is a result of an untreated thyroid and they feel I have RA as a result of this alsoI developed dry eye over the last year myself. I was having problems with almost like a foggie type thing going on with my eyes...never had they felt "dry" actually they often watered without warning. (Dry eye doesn't always feel dry liek you'd think it would) I also have become very sensative to light. I can't step outside in the day time with out sunglasses.
My RD said that's all caused by sjorgens which is very common in RD pts.
My eye doctor recommended OTC "Refresh Tears" I have two different kinds that I use. During the day I'll use the "Mild to Moderate" formula. At night I'll use the "Moderate to Severe" type. It's a little thicker and it takes a little longer for my eyes to readjust after I use that so I hate using those during the day. It has helped a lot.
They can do a simple little test to test your tear production. It doesn't hurt.
Anyone on Plaquinel needs to make sure they are keeping up with their eye exams as well as that medication can cause other, more serious complications if not caught in time. It is rare, but can be serious.
Good Evening,
I also have Sjohrens and I was put on Restasis, at first. All went well but then it started to burn my eyes and my eyes where already doing that, plus like Lovie said...they would water at a drop of a hat...looked like I was always crying...Finally I got rid of the Restasis and went to Refresh Plus...I didn't know this about Sjogrens either but my finger nails where drying out and I could not figure out what was happening to them as I use gloves to do dishes and clean the house...Well it seems that's part of Sjogrens too.
In case anyone wanted more information on Sjogrens, I placed a link in the post.
http://www.gazettearchives.com/health2001/_disc4/0000014a.ht m
Lovie, I really hate that fog over my eyes. I thought it was from the Astigmatism. On my last eyes exam, it showed that my Astigmatism was getting better in one eye but the other eye now had the start of Astigmatism in it and when I asked him if it could be the RA and he said it could be...Is there anything that is safe from RA? Needless to say, I started adding fish oil to my nutrients list and I think I am doing a little better with the dry eye...and it is suppose to help the RA too. (Omega 3 Fatty Oil) Also the disease that you are talking about from taking Plaquenil is AMD and/or Macular Degeneration Disease...Not a good eye disease to have to...can cause blindness.
http://www.charles-retina.com/md-faq.htm
Hope everyone has a wonderful Weekend.
Toni