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Cataract and Glaucoma Specialist

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Home > Archives for rheumatoid arthritis

Uveitis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

September 16, 2018 by Anne Arundel Eye Center 1 Comment

Uveitis is a inflammatory condition of the middle layer of the eye, the uvea, which provides most of the blood supply to the retina. Similar to arthritis of the joints, Uveitis is not an infection, but rather an inflammation.

While, in most cases, the cause is idiopathic, Uveitis can be associated with autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis, infection, exposure to toxins, bowel and abdominal inflammation, and even trauma. The whole body is connected and sometimes an injury to a completely unrelated area of your body, like your back, can trigger Uveitis.

Signs and Symptoms

Uveitis symptoms may develop rapidly, affecting one or both eyes, and can include:

•          Blurred vision

•          Dark, floating spots in the vision

•          Eye pain

•          Redness of the eye

•          Sensitivity to light

Forms of Uveitis

Uveitis is the third-leading cause of blindness in developed countries, behind Cataracts (#1) Glaucoma (#2).

The most common form of Uveitis is Anterior Uveitis, also called Iritis, which involves inflammation in the front part of the eye. The disorder may affect one eye or both eyes and is most common in young and middle-aged people.

Posterior Uveitis, also referred to as Choroiditis, affects the back part of the uvea and primarily involves the chorid, which is a layer of blood vessels under the retina. If the retina is involved, it is called Chorioretinitis.

The final form of Uveitis is Pars Planitis, which is an inflammation affecting the area just behind the iris. This particular type of Uveitis occurs primarily in young men.

Treatment

Treatment for Uveitis involves the use of steroid eye drops, though additional treatments may be helpful, including: wearing dark glasses, using eye drops that dilate and relax the pupil to relieve pain, using oral steroids, and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin.

With proper treatment, most cases of Uveitis are resolved in a few days or, more commonly, a few weeks. However, relapses are common.

Call your eye doctor immediately if you are suffering from blurry vision or any of the other previously mentioned symptoms. Your doctor may refer you to an eye specialist.

Eye pain and reduced vision are serious symptoms that require prompt medical attention from you optometrist or ophthalmologist.

If you have any questions about what you have just read, please contact Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010.

Sources:

PubMed Health

Uveitis Mayo Clinic

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Did You Know Rheumatoid Arthritis Can Affect Your Vision?

November 4, 2016 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Rheumatoid Arthritis & VisionAccording to the Mayo Clinic, “Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect more than just your joints. In some people, the condition also can damage a wide variety of body systems,” including the eyes. In fact, it’s one of the more common complications – which can lead to corneal damage and vision loss if left untreated. Some of the most common issues include: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Eye Care Tagged With: rheumatoid arthritis, Vision

Treating the Common Problem of Dry Eyes

August 5, 2011 by Anne Arundel Eye Center Leave a Comment

Dry eye is a common and often chronic problem.

As we age, tear production diminishes, leaving most individuals over the age of 65 with at least some symptoms of dry eye. Yet, dry eye is not just a medical condition that affects the elderly. Other causes of the common eye problem include: medications like antihistamines, blood pressure medicine and antidepressants; medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and thyroid problems; inflammation of the eye surface or eyelids as well as abnormal turning of the eyelids; smoke, wind and dry climates; long-term use of contact lenses; and refractive eye surgeries such as LASIK.

Symptoms of dry eye include:

•     Stinging

•     Burning

•     Scratchiness

•     Stringy mucus

•     Excessive irritation from smoke and wind

•     Discomfort when wearing contact lenses

•     Watering eyes

If you feel you may be suffering from dry eye, you should schedule an appointment with your eye doctor right away. Dry eye can be diagnosed through a comprehensive patient history and eye exam as well as with the help of tests that measure tear production and eye surface dryness.

If you are diagnosed with dry eye, you have several treatment options. You can add tears with over-the-counter artificial tear solutions, conserve tears by temporarily or permanently blocking the tear ducts, increase tear production with prescription eye drops, or you can treat the contributing eyelid or ocular surface inflammation.

You can also attempt to reduce the symptoms of dry eye by…

•     Blinking regularly when reading or staring at a computer for long periods of time

•     Increasing the level of humidity in the air

•     Wearing sunglasses

•     Staying hydrated

•     Using nutritional supplements containing essential fatty acids

Should your dry eye problem persist or continue to cause discomfort, be sure to contact your eye doctor for more information and treatment. If you have any questions about what you have just read, contact Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here today!

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