6 unexpected ways arthritis can affect your eyes

From bt.com

You may not realise but the same inflammation that damages your joints can also harm your eyes. We found out what you need to know.

If you have arthritis, any change in vision should be addressed straight away and you should always have regular eye examinations to monitor your eye health. If you are at all concerned, visit your GP.

We spoke to Vision Direct to find out what to look out for and what to do to protect your vision:

1. Keratitis sicca or dry eye disease

Keratitis sicca, also known as dry eye disease, is any condition that decreases the level of moisture in your eyes.
This is often associated with rheumatoid arthritis. According to the Arthritis Foundation, women are nine times more likely to suffer from dry eyes than men.
The condition can leave your eyes feeling dry, or like there’s something in them, or with blurred vision.
To get relief from dry eyes you may be prescribed medications for arthritis, which will help with inflammation. Other solutions such as topical salves, artificial tears and also eye drops can help keep eyes moist.

2. Cataracts

A cataract occurs when inflammation of the eyeball causes the lens to become cloudy. The lens should usually be crystal clear.
This can cause cloudy or blurred vision, colours to seem faded and bad vision at night.
Cataracts are usually treated with surgery where the lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens.

3. Uveitis

Uveitis is caused by inflammation of the uvea, which is the vascular layer of the eye.
This inflammation can result in blurred vision, pain, sensitivity to light and redness.
If left untreated, it can result in vision loss.
Keeping arthritis inflammation under control with medication can help minimize the risk of this developing. However, if you notice any signs of uveitis, it’s important to speak to your doctor immediately.
Initially, you will probably be given a corticosteroid eye drop. If this isn’t enough then you might be prescribed an oral corticosteroid or the eye injected with a corticosteroid. An antibiotic may also be needed in the case of infection.

4. Scleritis

This is inflammation of the sclera - the white part of your eye.
Any inflammatory arthritis conditions can cause it to thin. Look out for redness that won’t go away even with eye drops, pain, sensitivity to light and reduced vision as these can all be indicators of scleritis.
To treat it, special prescribed eye drops can often be used to control inflammation.
However, the issue may be too deep within the eye to control topically. This is often a sign that levels of arthritis inflammation are out of control within the body and it’s important to visit your doctor and keep it in check with medication.

5. Glaucoma

Glaucoma occurs when there is damage to the optic nerve, which results in vision loss. Usually this is caused by high pressure within the eye, often caused by inflammation of the valve that regulates this pressure.
In the early stages, glaucoma presents no symptoms.
If you do develop symptoms these can include eye pain, blurred vision, blank spots and rainbow-colored halos near lights.
Going for regular eye tests can help you identify glaucoma early.
Treatment usually involves eye drops to help reduce the level of pressure in the eye. In more serious cases, surgery may be necessary to help lower the level of pressure.

6. Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis happens when there is inflammation or an infection of the lining of your eyelids and the white of your eyes.
This is often a symptom of reactive arthritis and about half of people with reactive arthritis develop conjunctivitis according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
If you have redness in the white of the eye or inner lid, increased amount of tears, yellow discharge that crusts over the eyelashes (especially after sleep) or itchy or burning eyes, it could be conjunctivitis.
It’s typically treated by using chloramphenicol eye drops which are available to buy over the counter – though you should consult a doctor should symptoms persist.
In more severe cases, chloramphenicol and fusidic acid antibiotics may be prescribed.

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