Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Question about eyes please???

Having trouble with my eyes...they burn. Red. No discharge just plain scary looking! I thought maybe it was allergies..but antihistimines arent helping. Any of my kind friends here that have had iritis or uveitis ...take a peep at these pics? I am calling my doc in the morning. I have burning and when I tried going to the bank and an errand, I could barely stand any light outside. I had to put on my dark sunglasses. Usually my allergies cause my eyes to get puffy. I have no puffiness..just the right eye that is the worst...
Or if you have had severe allergies and had this possibly?? I have had allergies for years..but never anything like this....rather embarassing at the stores. There is no sticky stuff on my eye or it shut closed.

any input would be appreciated! Buggy

Hi Buggy,

It looks a bit like the scleritis I'm suffering from - inflamation of the white part of the eye rather than the iris. It's painful, usually red and inflamed and bothered by light. No discharge (so it's not pink eye). The pain is a kind of deep ache rather than burning (for me anyway). Maybe episcleritis, although I'm not sure of the difference.

You should definitely see a doctor tomorrow - don't leave it. Mine packed me off to see the eye specialist the same day!

Hope it feels better soon.

I've heard it suggested that such red eyes might be caused by being at the computer too long? I'd be interested in hearing what you find out.
Whatever it is, it sure looks like something your doctor should know about. When I get something like that, it isn't particularly painful (compared to everything else) more like an ache as WendyR described or maybe even a sort of bruised feeling? It never lasts long, maybe a few days. Although my eyes can get like yours, the other descriptions of uveitis and such don't seem to fit my experience so I've never really done anything about it.

I'm hoping you will find a quick and easy solution. If that's not the case, there are certainly a bunch of people in here with some good advice for you...I'm not one of them though...sorry.

Hi Buggy

Went to the eye doctor last week for my burning, itchy eyes. My eyes were really bloodshot in the morning with some improvement during the day. I have been photosensitive but even more so lately. The eye doctor told me I did not have uvitus(sp) but rather dry eye caused by the medications people with arthritis are taking. She gave me 2 sets of drops, one for tear production the other for inflammation. She also said to use a hot towel on my eyes for 10 minutes , twice a day to open up the tear ducts. I am on my second week and things have improved somewhat. I go back to see her in Feb. for a follow-up.

Buggie I hope you get in to see your doctor right away. I was worried about uvitus and just wanted to get checked out to make sure I didn't have it. I hope you don't have it either.

Hi Ladybuggy, I'm not sure how iritis effect's different people, but when I had it I couldnt stand any light at all, the pain was VERY intense, not just in my eye but all one side of my head. The white of my eye was very red & the black pupil was very small, alot smaller than the other. I realy hope you havent got iritis, It's not nice. All the best. Mez.

It sure look like iritis to me. I looked for some pics to show what I looked like, but I think anyone with a camera would would have rather taken a picture of a rock or something instead.
Are you HLA-B27+?

One thing I remembered is that it was only my left eye that really got it, but even when keeping it closed, and wearing an eye patch over it, whenever light hit my right eye, my left eye would still hurt. That was was explained to me that the irises in my eyes don't work independently, so the left iris was trying to close down in sympathy to the right, causing the pain even though it wasn't getting any light.

I also remember the only peaceful times I had were at night, walking our dogs in the neighborhood, because it was dark and could avoid all lights, except for the occasional car going by, where I would hide behind something. I quickly learned which neighbors had those automatic lights on their lawns, got blasted a few times when walking near them, and suddenly they would get triggered, and it felt like a scene in a prison movie escape scene when the guards shine the big spotlight on you, but these lights really hurt!


Hope you will be seeing a good eye doctor. My healing was slow, because I first saw one of those optometrists, who didn't know what to do when a few days of prednisone drops didn't help much, and ended up sending me to a retinologist, which is where I learned I was HLA-B27+. I remember at the time being relieved to learn that it was unlikely that I didn't get the problem from playing too many video games!

Bug
You better get them checked out, you don't want to mess around if it is uvieitis, which people with AS can get. The redness and sensitivity to light are both symptoms.

Eyes are nothing to fool around with! Good luck!
Trae~

Hi Buggy, it's scary isn't it? I was just told I had episcleritis, (and I was told the dull eyeball ache would be much worse if it were scleritis) so I can describe that to you... ... my eye looks like 4 day old fish. Lovely, really, not frightening or bloody red, maybe really really stoned red. And the 'whites' are swollen and, well, mushy as opposed to tight, like not yet set jello. Definitely some photophobia. Ilbcrzn's heat pad suggestion is good, and I actually put some cold on for a bit. I swear it felt better if you couldn't tell from looking at me.
So, if you eyes look like a stoned fish made out of premature jello, that's it.

I should have been an ichthyological ophthalmologist, huh?

I feel for you. I am having a double wammy right now also. .......charles

Hi Buggy,
Looks like it might be Iritis to me, too. Definitely get it checked out. When I get it, it is often in both eyes at the same time, which I guess is unusual. Also, the redness in the whites of my eyes is a little worse near the iris.
Hope you are able to get it checked out asap.
Good luck.
Marcat (Mary)