Does anyone know what kidn of problems RA causes (if any) with the eyes?
Yesterday I had this really weird thing with my eyes. It was like everything was wavy and jumping everywhere. Really weird and a little scary.
I have also noticed how dry tey always are. Used to be that everytime I would yawn or lay down on my side, my eyes would water. Also my mother noticed in her pictures from mother's day that in all the pictures I look bug-eyed.
I am new to this RA stuff and don't know what is and isn't related. Could some of you that have had this for a while let me know if you have had or do have eye problems and what else is down the RA Highway?
Some of those symptoms you describe are thyroid related. Have you had a recent thyroid panel done?I've never had anything done with thyroid but my mom is meds for hers. Is that something that is hereditary?
I'll put taht a thyroid panel on my list for the docs.
the bug eyes description is what made me think of it. I think it's Grave's disease. Ask for a detailed panel, not the 'normal' one... I think its the T-3Uptake and the T-4 that tell a lot more than just the normal thyroid panel. http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/489/main.htmlTahnks Terinski!
Checked out the site and had lot of useful info. I'll be talking to doc about it on nex visit.
You also want to get checked by the opthalmologist. There's anothe autoimmune disease called Wegner's which can cause the eyes to but out.
RA can cause inflammation and cause these symptoms. Really sounds like you have Dry Eyes or Sjogren's. Start putting the sterilized eye drops (not Visine) in your eyes. Put cold compresses on your eyes and see if that helps.
If you are on prednisone, one of the side effects is glaucoma which is pressure in the eyes.
So, you really need to see both your RD and opthamologist right away. When it comes to eyes, you need both of their expertise.
Get all of the tests mentioned about, but please do get to the eye doctor right away. I've had lots of problems with my eyes so they watch them constantly.
The only problem I've had is that my vision is blurry - and that comes and goes. There are days when I see just fine, and days when I can barely see my hands in front of my face. I think others have mentioned that, too - but I second having them look into Graves, Sjogrens, and other eye-related syndromes. And don't wait. Things like glaucoma can be successfully treated, but are devastating without treatment.I've had a lazy left eye since I was 6 so I really can only see out of the right one.
Ya'll got me convinced. I will call the eye doctor TODAY!!!
Thanks very very much!
Hi deena, on occasion, i have a wavey thing with my left eye. if it happens, it seems to be on the mtx day. sometime comes and goes for a day and a half. can be hard to focus with that eye. as to the dry eye, it seems to me that i read something about that but it is associated with a different autoimmune problem. "bugging"eyes can be a sign of hypo throid problems. also an autoimmune issue. best resource is your rhemy dr. good luck...Thanks everyone. I'll let ya know what I find out.I'm hypothyroid and my eyes are dry most of the time. I have to use drops. I will say that since I have RA,that the dryness is worse at times.
Trisha