I went for my anual eye exam. I told the Dr. that my eyes feel dry and itchy. After he did his exam he grabbed my eye lids and turned the over. He told me that I have a rash effecting both eyes. The rash is sever enough that he gave me a Rx for a eye drops that cost about $600 w/o insurance and a health $100 with insurance. The bottle may have a 1/2 oz. in it.
My eyes are dry and itch from time to time. The whites of my eyes some time are mostly red. He was thinking it was allergies. But it late in the year for a allergy. I told him that I have PsA and he just said "Oh". He said that he want to wait for the rash to clear and then he would recheck my eyes before he would issue a prescription for glasses.
Check with your pharmacist before you fill that script...... If its the one I think it is, its a combo drop of steroids and antibiotic which if purchased seperatley are less than 30.00...
The pharmacist call the Dr. and gave me one that was only $60.00 for about 0.5 oz. I will have to check if I refill it. Thanks
tntlamb said:
Check with your pharmacist before you fill that script...... If its the one I think it is, its a combo drop of steroids and antibiotic which if purchased seperatley are less than 30.00...
I got the same prescription probably for blepharitis while I was flaring last time. I got the cheaper version, as pointed out. I was also told that hygiene was an important part of avoiding problems, but it is an inflammation issue. It can cause itchy and red eyes, as well as tearing, etc.
Here's the thing: see your Rheumatologist to see if it's Sjogren's, which causes dry eyes and is often comorbid with various types of autoimmune arthritis.
Would the rheumatologist be able to test for this? Or would this be done by the eye doctor as well?
Marietta said:
Here's the thing: see your Rheumatologist to see if it's Sjogren's, which causes dry eyes and is often comorbid with various types of autoimmune arthritis.
I am still in the "trying to figure out what you have" stage but definitely spondylarthropathy of some sort. Just diagnosed yesterday with Giant Papillary Conjuctivitis which has goe on for at least 5 years without a definite diagnosis. Does anyone know if this is related to inflammatory arthritis? I
Eye issues are DEFINITELY part of various types of autoimmune arthritis. I had severe eye inflammation 5 yrs before I came down with PsA symptoms. I ended up developing glaucoma in one eye to all the inflammation, lost my vision in that eye, and 10 yrs later had it removed and got an artificial eye. I'm on biologics as much for the fact that they have stopped almost all eye inflammation in my remaining eye as I am for the joint / skin issues.
medicmom said:
I am still in the "trying to figure out what you have" stage but definitely spondylarthropathy of some sort. Just diagnosed yesterday with Giant Papillary Conjuctivitis which has goe on for at least 5 years without a definite diagnosis. Does anyone know if this is related to inflammatory arthritis? I
My eyes are constantly itchy and watering now. I have wondered if I have P inside my eyelids. I have been waiting to go to the eye doctor until this flare is under better control because I am sure it is affecting my vision and I know I need new glasses but I want them to be the right prescription. I should probably just go already.
I don't believe you can get P internally (like insides of your eyelids). It might be Sjogren's or just one more place that is inflamed :( If you can't see an opthamologist yet, talk to your rheumy or primary doc about it. They probably have something that will help in the interim.
OrganicKetchup said:
My eyes are constantly itchy and watering now. I have wondered if I have P inside my eyelids. I have been waiting to go to the eye doctor until this flare is under better control because I am sure it is affecting my vision and I know I need new glasses but I want them to be the right prescription. I should probably just go already.
I have had an itch and dry eyes off and on for years it was only because I have PsA that I even mentioned it to the Eye Dr. He said it was a rash. I do not have any visable sign of P other that nail pitting. But every time I am flaring I itch on my legs and chest. Every time I have any type of surgery I break out in a rash. I think it is stress related. When my body is stessed I have a rash. I just ended a 3 month long flare. But it sound like a few of us with PsA have rashes under the eye lids. I does cause my eyes to water and lots of blurred vision.
My eyes are dry. I do not know if it is due to menopause, my age or PsA. When they are dry they itch. It is worse in the winter I notice. My eye doctor suggested an over the counter Systane but it is really expensive. I read the active ingredients and found a generic right next to it at Walmart, though I am sure Walgreens, CVS etc also have them. Much less expensive. I use them twice a day even when they are not bothering me more during the cold dry months.
Eye issues are DEFINITELY part of various types of autoimmune arthritis. I had severe eye inflammation 5 yrs before I came down with PsA symptoms. I ended up developing glaucoma in one eye to all the inflammation, lost my vision in that eye, and 10 yrs later had it removed and got an artificial eye. I'm on biologics as much for the fact that they have stopped almost all eye inflammation in my remaining eye as I am for the joint / skin issues.
medicmom said:
I am still in the "trying to figure out what you have" stage but definitely spondylarthropathy of some sort. Just diagnosed yesterday with Giant Papillary Conjuctivitis which has goe on for at least 5 years without a definite diagnosis. Does anyone know if this is related to inflammatory arthritis? I
Thanks for the information! I wish someone would have looked underneath the lid years ago. I noticed many articles about Giant Papillary conjunctivitis refer to "poor contact hygiene" but that doesn't make sense with it being in only one eye and the Dr. admitted my body is attacking it's own protein that builds up on the contact. I follow the cleaning/wearing instructions meticulously.
I have the same issue, my eye dr told me I am allergic to my dogs, the oldest of which I have had for ten years with no problems before this fall. When I had my second episode I started researching it more and found that it is a symptom of PsA. Haven’t gone back yet to talk to him about it again.
As far as the meds go, I had them make mine a 30 day script since this is one co-pay with my insurance so I paid $30 for three bottles instead of one. Each bottle is 100 drops (or so they say…) and 4 times a day in each eye is 8 drops per day. Good luck making sure only one drop comes out.
I have now seen a specialist with my eyes. I have tear duct plugs in each eye. I have different drops now. I use indivigual doses each time. But now I use restasis in the morning, after I put a hot towel on my eyes and them massage them, then an indivigual dose of moisturizer 3 times during the day, then I use restasis again at bed time again with the hot towel, then a celluvisc eye drop that is thick which put a film over my eyes so they do not dry at night. I sleep with a vaporizer. It still is not working. I now have double vision and my eye fatigue in just a few hours and it take most of the day to recover. My eyes are still dry.
This effects my eyes enough that my wife will not let me drive. I can not read signs and well there are twice as many cars on the road.
I am going on three year without glasses because my vision is so unstable. Each time I go in my sight has changed some times better, sometime worse.
I do have a cat, but I see no difference if I am away from the cat or around the cat. The dry air with winter makes them worse. I wear a Cpap at night so I though it was the mask. But I have change three different mask without success. So I sure it is a side effect. I now spend about $90 per month for eye drops. I do have a pre-paid card for retasis.