RA- eyes | Arthritis Information

I have had RA for about 3 yrs now. I have times when my eyes burn. Today my eye was burning and when I looked in the mirrow is was blood shot in the corner. Anyone else have eye problems, and was wondering if this could be part of the inflamation thing.

I have the burning in the eyes too, although I haven't had them become bloodshot. When I first wake up in the morning my eyes are sort of stuck together and I have to wash my face first thing to get the crud out and see. This started about the same time as the RA symptoms last year so I think it is part of the RA. But I keep forgetting to tell my rheumy about it. Sorry I am not more help.

Yes, I am having eye trouble right now. I had to go off embrel for a few weeks because of an upper respiratory infection.When I went back on it, I got an eye infection.I also have Sjogren's Syndrome which causes the eyes to be dry and irritated and blepharitis where the eyelids become encrusted and inflamed. I guess they are all connected with autoimmunity. I do better if I hold warm compresses to my eyes and use Natural tears several times a day. When it's really bad I do eyelid scrubs and wash out my eyes with natural tears using an eye cup.I have eye issues. I have Sjorgen's which is secondary to the RA. I see the
eye dr. at least once a month if not more. I once went 3 times in a week!

My eyes are very dry which leads to other issues. Keratits, scleritis, and
espclertits are three examples I have had. Red eyes can be a sign of dry
eye or other things as well. I always stress to people to see an
opthomologist if they have RA. An optometrist doesn't cut it.

My rheumy and eye dr. talk back and forth to make sure they are both on
the same page.

Beckythe eye problem also is with pa a few months ago i woke with bright red burning eye balls. i went to a new doc and he said it was just conjunctivitis and said to use the cream he prescribed. by the next day the pain through my head was unbeleivable. i checked on the net and found that with ra and pa you can get iritis. i went to another doc who gave me antibiotic drops within 10 minutes of using the drops the pain started to ease up. sometimes doctors dont know everything.

I get dry scratchy eyes as well, and sometimes the corner turnes red(bloodshot) I am also having problems with my eyesight. somedays blurry, and than others days theere not. i was thinking maybe that is d/T my PA?

kel

i get blurry eyes somedays also but i think that is tiredness. if i have done too much the day before i get blurry eyes the next day.

[QUOTE=allycat]the eye problem also is with pa a few months ago i woke with bright red burning eye balls. i went to a new doc and he said it was just conjunctivitis and said to use the cream he prescribed. by the next day the pain through my head was unbeleivable. i checked on the net and found that with ra and pa you can get iritis. i went to another doc who gave me antibiotic drops within 10 minutes of using the drops the pain started to ease up. sometimes doctors dont know everything.[/QUOTE]

Boy you got that right.

for nearly two years after my asthma attack that put me in a coma for ten days and hospital for nearly three months. my doc kept telling me i had muscle weakness and to go to the gym etc. its was with my perseverance that he finally sent me to the rheumatologist who diagnosed pa. that was nearly two years of absolute torture. so if you have a problem hang in there till you get the result you need

Hi forgiven, I had dry eyes and had an eye doctor do something to the ducts. (someone here on the board thought put in a plug?)I need to dig into my files. Now, my eyes water a lot, if I'm out doors in the wind, but I don't have dry, scratchy eyes anymore..

sarah

Could be allergies too. Is it seasonal? I also note the broken blood vessels in my eyes if I'm on the computer alot. If I play Tetris for even 5 minutes it happens. Very weird. My eyes go blood shot and very watery almost everyday. My optician says it's the result of inflammation in the eye due to RA. He described it as like a mild conjuncteveitis. Scattered39192.0438425926My eye dr. told me that RA definitely can affect the eyes but he said some of the meds (I think plaquenil was one of them) can also affect the eyes. He did say that they can put plugs in the tear ducts in the bottom inner corner of they eye so that the tears will come from the top lid and more effectively cover the eye rather than tear from the top and drain into the bottom duct. I think I got that right. I didn't go for the plugs, I use drops every now and then but i wear contact lenses. By about 5pm everyday though the burning is bad and I have to put my glasses on. If I were you I'd make an eye dr. appt and talk about your optionsSheri, I have EXACTLY the same thing you do. EXACTLY. I believe it is definitely related to my RA. I use SYSTANE drops regularly (they are otc) and they help a lot but only if I use them regularly. I am going to talk to my RD next time about this. I have spoken to my eye doctor about it but it never seems to be a problem when I am seeing him, though he is NOT an opthamologist so I may have to rethink that and change docs.

Jeanne
Hi, this RA monster strikes again, I have episcleritis which sounds like what you are describing, very painful, red and annoying. Also I had to have drops and now artificial tears for Sjrojens syndrome, I also have blepharitis of the eyelids from RA, and from prednisone use I have Glaucoma, which I have had laser treatment for and believe it or not steroid drops!!!!! I just add it all to the list now and shrug my shoulders. Currently I am awaiting results for a stress fracture in my foot due to steroid use causing osteoporosis!!!! Kind regards Janie.

But--if they are effective in your eyes I have been told that they can be a lifesaver.

becky

My doctor has me using diclofenac eye drops for inflammation in my eyes from the RA... seems to really work. Helps reduce the redness I get as well.

All things mentioned are great, the systane drops do help but you need to use them regularly, like 2-3 times a day, everyday. The punctual plugs do help a lot of people as well, that's my next step.

I have chronic episcleritis and when it gets bad, I use fml steroid drops, they are prescription.

If you wear contacts, ask to try the Ciba's Night and Day. They are FDA approved to be slept in for 30 days but people like us, that isn't going to happen. But, because they do allow more oxygen to your eyes, they work really well for dry eye people. Acuvue Oasys is also another really good lens to try. Just a note, do no use the systane drops while contacts are in!

I was having a lot of problems about two years ago and the eye dr. dx'ed "dry eye" they did this little test with these strips that they put on your eyes. You have to wait in a dark room for a VERY LONG five minutes blinking as little as possible. Then they take the strips off. Sure enough; dry as a bone.

At the time he told me to just start with OTC tear drops and they do help.

It can cause the blurriness you mentioned too.