I’m just wondering how many people have eye problems with PsA?
I had to go to the GP today with a sore red eye. It is actually sore to touch and feels kind of swollen in the socket if that makes sense? It hurts to look around.
The redness is quite alarming but there’s no discharge like conjunctivitis. I’ve worn contact lenses a few more times than usual lately (holidays) but wear disposables and only for a couple of hours at a time due to previous problems with them. Usually this is fine.
GP did a fluorescent dye drops thing in my eye and there is no ulcer. My vision seems fine although I’ve been taking painkillers for headaches.
He’s referred me to eye doctor with no urgency unless I start getting visual disturbances in which case I have to go to emergency department. GP thinks it’s possible it’s inflammatory due to PsA.
I’ve got chlorsig drops twice a day in case it’s infection.
I’ve had a bunch of eye problems. The minor ones include blepharitis. I also have a diagnosis is Sjogrens syndrome, so I am treated for dry eye as well.
Separately though and prior to the sjogrens diagnosis, I had my first episode of changed vision in one eye, with no redness. It also included other symptoms including light sensitivity and headache and pain behind that eye. The final thought in my case was that it was retinal inflammation, found during a specialist exam.
For you, they should be looking for inflammatory issues, and the sooner that you are seen the better. Some of these issues can cause permanent damage. Get yourself to an eye doctor as soon as humanly possible. You need a full dilated eye exam.
Thanks for the link to the Newbies guide on eyes. It reminded me that inflammation alone can lead to cataracts. Yes, I have a cataract already in the eye that has repeatedly had problems. I was asked about steroid use in that eye, but it just hasn’t been enough to support that theory. But inflammation is.
Wow, Stoney, that’s interesting. And too bad about the cataract. The good news is that cataract treatment has come a very long way in the last decade or so. Naturally, nobody wants the treatment, but having to have it isn’t nearly as bad, risky or painful as it used to be.
Tntlamb often comments that there isn’t a part of your body or a body system that can’t be touched by PsA. Tragic, but true.
When I went on a trial of hydroxychloroquine, my rheumatologist sent me to an ophthalmologist for monitoring. I saw him every couple of months while I was on that drug. The HCQ did nothing for me, and when I went off it, I asked whether I still needed to come in for checkups. His comment was “With what you’ve got, I want to see you every 12 months, and if you get any eye problems in between, you phone me right away.” I’m really grateful for that doctor.
It’s got worse overnight so I am waiting at hospital to see opthamologist.
The initial doctor thinks schleritis or epischleritis so I’m quite frightened by the schleritis
Eye problems are common, from what I can gather. I’ve had them for about a year - nothing worse than some redness and really dry and itchy/sore in my case, but apparently common. My optician told me about certain eyedrops I could get from the doctor that have been very good. I just use them on an ad-hoc basis. Hydroxychloroquine can also cause eye problems, and eye tests are recommended every year for people on them. Luckily, I had one yesterday, and all fine!
Interesting that you’ve had vision changes, @Stoney. I struggle with weird vision problems which my eye doctor (who has RA so is an empathetic listener!) and my GP (who suffered a weird acute inflammatory illness that left her practically bed-ridden two years ago) both attribute to PsA. I have a dear friend who is a clinical researcher in our optometry school and she, too, is of the same opinion. Neither doc is “worried” because my symptoms come and go (with changes in inflammation) and I haven’t suffered any prolonged redness or visible swelling to my eyes.
I no longer worry too much about it as it seems kind of like a routine that for some period of time vision in one eye or the other (usually my left eye) is altered significantly. I suffer headaches behind the eyes, it’s easy to get eye strain and my night vision is compromised. Then it clears up. My GP had such dramatic changes in her vision when she was sick that she had about 3 different contact lens prescriptions which she changed depending on how she was feeling.
Me too! When I had this disease get serious, I has to wear sunglasses inside. Finally, fearing iritis a very dangerous related condition, I went to a ophthalmologist to check for inflammation with a slit test. The pain subsides with prednisone, so certainly, in my case, was inflammation. The bad news, with very little prednisone, in the first year of Psa diagnosis, I have cortisone caused cataracts. We have a Eye institute here. If it’s serious I think you want to know right away. I was lucky, they say.
Hi and thanks for the responses. I spent the morning yesterday at the hospital and ophthalmologists.
The provisional diagnosis is shingles in my eye. It has a fancy medical name but thats essentially what it is.
I have had shingles before on my arm.
They have taken a swab (ouch!) to test but I’m only on chlorsig ointment - I am concerned after googling I should be on antivirals? anyway have to go back next week and if no improvement or worsening then sooner.
They also said there was a lot of inflammation which could be the auto immune? but if they give me steroids if its a virus that will make the virus go crazy. He suggested virus might have got hold due to being immune suppressed.
So its wait and see at this stage. It’s quite painful around and the eye itself hurts, and in the socket, like its been bruised and very red and swollen and teary, but not infectious. My vision is ok.
Scary indeed, Koala! Shingles in your eyes … I’m cringing at the thought. I’m so glad that you saw an ophthalmologist and that you will continue to be monitored.
Get well soon and keep in touch.
OMG, Koala, that is scary…I never heard of shingles in the eye but my aunt had it in her face. I had always thought it was only on the torso. Thank God there’s a shingles vaccine, unfortunately, I didn’t have it before I went on Enbrel and you can’t get the vaccine while you’re on a biologic.
I hope your eye recovers soon!
Hi everyone,
The swab was negative for virus
So now I’ve been diagnosed with uveitis. Still st the hospital. Very very painful last night and today I could have chopped my head off.
Steroid drops hourly. The doctors suggested that my PsA is not under control for this to happen so maybe I can get my biologics now?
Update from me; I’ve been hospitalised with what they think is posterior uveitis. They’ve put me on 60 mg oral pred.
Injection into eye in morning and some other tests to make sure it’s AI and not infection. They not 100 % sure what’s going on. It’s come on very quickly as prior to this was only anterior.
