Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group question about eye inflammation

Hi all, would anyone be willing to describe what their eye looks like during an attack please? Thanks

Hi, deniD:

There are about four different eye conditions we are susceptible to, but mot notably IRITIS (Acute Anterior Uveitis or AAU): My eyes were BLOODSHOT, severely, with a thick coating and constantly watering--especially on any exposure to light at nearly any intensity. This reaction feels like a hot icepick might be like as it is shoved straight into the affected eye. It usually begins with some tenderness around the periphery of the eye where it meets the socket, but then pain just builds and is nagging until very acute; I cannot get the drops in fast enough!

This horrible memory helps keep me on the straight-and-narrow, diet-wise. I can eliminate the salient symptoms in the magical four days, but it takes a long time before all the pain subsides.

Not everyone experiences this level of discomfort and these might even be in worse shape in long-run for risk of losing eyesight (AAU is a leading cause of blindness), but mine has been compromised. Some ASers experience a "smoldering iritis" that does not deliver the same level of pain as an important alarm, so the damage is sneaky.

Best to see an ophthalmologist in any event, ASAP.

Conjunctivitis is not usually painful, and we awaken with eyelids glued shut and bloodshot eyes (red sclera).

Episcleritis and primary scleritis are other conditions that I am not so familiar with.

I already use reading glasses, so I won't ask whether I can eat starch until I need them...

HEALTH,
John

I haven't seen any eye doctors, because there hasn't been any severe pain or discomfort, but my left eye gets red and seems to have shrunken over the last ten years, seems the worse I feel the the smaller the eye gets. my boss asked about it recently. he said my eye looked like it was drooping.
I have used visine, but after a while i develop a gooey film. i can take a soft tissue and pull the slime off. sounds more gross than it is. My vision has really went down hill in the last two years. I am going to have to see a good eye doctor, going blind on top of everything else is a scary thought.

Ok thank you , bit confusing for me as l was agraves disease sufferer so had some eye problems any how... had thyroid removed in 2007, it is only this year l realised that along with the bad pain my eye will play up, 3 times this year my eye has been pure blood red with smaller pools of darker blood sat on it in places !! I always seem to have a blood shot eye sometimes more so than other times , l also have what looks like a film of jelly to the left affected eye on the outer corner area.... its there most of the time infact l cant remember when it lkast was not!! I do get pain but not always it could be a fast stabbing sensation or an aching of the eye ball.. or it could be pain above the eye, l get black floaters, l havnt the best sight to start off with so blurry vision isnt new to me at all inface because l had graves l just learnt to put up with this due to the fact l had thyroid problems and docs never even looked and just said its due to thyroid years ago.... only NOW they are listening due to the pain which accompanys it. Ive been told to go to the eye hospital next time it flares up to try and assist with a diagnosis, l do not like bright lights/days it feels to bright for me :(, l do not have conjunctivitis like in my early graves disease days which was a lot back in 2004. I google images and compare but lm confused by the description because this has sadly become normal for me so l dont know when l should go to the eye hospital. Im actually hoping for it to go pure blood red again so l can get some diagnosis at last. Im really grateful for your replies thanks so much x

oh Elmer that sounds awful actually my eye looks like you could get the jelly out too yuck lol hey somethign else thats bene happenign to me lately jelly blobs on the inner corner area of the eye they last a few days then disappear does this sound common? x

deniD - absolutely go to an emergency eye clinic next time it flares up. You do need to know what is going on, and if it is iritis then it needs to get treated urgently to avoid you losing any more of your sight. I don't know how you decide when to go, but I'd say earlier rather than later. They are the experts. Its much better for them to decide its not important than for you to miss out on treatment and allow further damage to happen.

When you do go in, make absolutely sure that you tell them a) you were told to go there if it flared up, and b) you are being investigated for Ankylosing Spondylitis and were told by a specialist to go there if it flared up. Don't let them fob you off without a proper examination (using appropriate equipment, not just a junior doctor looking at your eyes). Hope you get some answers.

Hi Deni,

You should probably not wait for another flare up for your eye and instead have your GP refer you to an Opthalmologist (not an optomitrist!). Black floaters are another sign that what you have been suffering with may be iritis, along with the light sensitivity.

With iritis it is more common to have acute attacks (usually looks bloodshot rather than pure blood red) however, iritis can also attack some people in a less obvious way, where symptoms may not include any redness or even pain. Considering you have a gel on the corner of your eye (a hypopyon? could be a sign of iritis), you should probably have your eyes checked regardless. If you are currently not suffering with a flare, they may still be apt to see residual damage that could help to determine if you've had past attacks.

Good luck!

Hi elmerfudd,

Even with a lack of severe eye pain or discomfort, if one eye is prone to redness then I think you should ask for a referral to be properly examined by an Ophthalmologist. Redness in one eye is not normal. If it were allergies or something, it would be affecting both eyes, so it may be best to be safe and find out. With an AS diagnosis, 1/3 of us will get iritis.

Some symptoms of iritis:
blurriness to your normal vision
light sensitivity (photophobia),
pink-ish to redness around the iris
pain in or around your eye (that can begin like a headache)
sensation like a bit of dust is stuck in your eye
doubled vision
different size pupils (or odd shape)

Keep in mind that chronic iritis is much sneakier and may not always present with classic signs.

Basically, everyone with SpA, especially AS, should be aware of any vision changes or unusual eye symptoms, even if the symptoms are not 'textbook', particularly those of us who are B27+. Awareness and understanding that iritis is considered an ocular emergency is key to getting in quickly for treatment and care. Not all GP's even realize the severity or potential for damage.


Anyway, elmerfudd, you are right that AS is enough to deal with, so I hope you are in the other 2/3rds!
mig

Thanks you all again x My doc just told me to go to the eye hospita; its a self refferal place, its quite a bit away from where l live well more awkward to get to l dont want to run the risk of going at the wrong time as it is important to a diagnosis, at moment l couldnt go if l wanted too lm still in the flare l thought l was coming out of sternum pain, stomach discomfort hip and lower back pain and mid spine spasms also somethign newish lately l feel like lve naged my hip and one of my finger joints but know l havnt>> So oainful to even touch.... l might try see my doc today dont feel good at all thank you all for your valuable time and help xxx

Ps the jelly on the outer corner of the eye is all over the outer corner almosy to the coloured part , the other corner nearest the nose l get jelly blobs from time to time which go within days the outer corner does not go away x