HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

MTX question

Support Forums
>
Rheumatoid Arthritis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/31/2006 12:22 PM (GMT 0)
I've had three doses of mtx already, and I have noticed a pattern with my eyes burning and itching like crazy for a few days after the weekly dose.  Is this common to others using mtx?  Or is it something completely unrelated that I should mention to my rheumy?  I also take plaquenil, but that should help dry eye syndrome (theoretically).

Thanks!

Elcamino

Posted 7/31/2006 1:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, I haven't taken any MTX ever and the itching in my eyes has drove me nuts starting 3 days ago. It is getting better, but I thought I had poison ivy in them. They are also very dry and do not feel well in general but do not actually hurt. I had 2 shots of prednisone about 1.5 weeks ago. Hopes you get better soon :)

Rj
Posted 7/31/2006 1:24 PM (GMT 0)

I did a search on dry itchy eyes and found that an arthritis flare can cause these symptoms.

http://www.perret-optic.ch/optometrie/symptomes_diagnostiques/symptomes/opto_sympain_gb.htm#iritis

Posted 7/31/2006 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks RJ.  Interesting info.

Posted 8/1/2006 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
hi everyone..... as you may know i am n the mtx also but i had dry eyes before i went on it ..... actually that was part of my first RA symptom.... i was first diagnosied with iritis and a week later my wrists were hurting real bad and the rest is history so i am uncertain if mtx causes dry eyes but i know RA does. i was given natural tears to take and moisten my eyes, not visine though- i was told no to that, just natural tears. hope that gives you some relief and if it continues let the eye doc or rhuemy know cause iritis can develop into something serious as it is an inflammation of the eyes and the tiny nerves and vessels need circulation that can be reduced with any inflamation. i actually had to take steriod drops and antibiotics... my eyes didnt itch though  teared like all get out! i was crying 24/7 or atleast that is how it looked.  my face went raw from all the tears. 

hope that helps ~*yalinda
Posted 8/1/2006 11:36 AM (GMT 0)

Thanks Yalinda.  I didn't know that RA can cause dry eyes.  Maybe I'll have my husband pick up some artificial tears.  Why is Visine a no-no?  I've never used it, but might have picked that up instead of artifical tears... I'm having more and more trouble with my contact lenses staying in--eyes get too dry. 

Elcamino

Posted 8/1/2006 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
i dont know why visine is a no-no i just know i was told not to take it but to use the artificial tears.... i too have dry eyes with my contacts moreso lately.... wearing my glasses much more these days

try and keep cool in this heat wave elcamino.... it is like a steam sauna outside here. heat index is 104 with 70%humididty i think i heard

~*yalinda
Posted 8/2/2006 11:35 AM (GMT 0)

When I saw an opthamologist for the plaquenil baseline monitoring, he told me to use artificial tears if I started developing dry, scratchy eyes.  At the time, I wasn't having too many problems.  He never said don't take visine, but he specifically mentioned artificial tears which are readily available OTC.  I think they have stronger prescription ones, but I don't think I'm there yet.  I'm going to try the artificial tears today.  My eyes were so sore when I woke up this morning, I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to put my contacts in.

Elcamino

Posted 8/2/2006 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
Elcamino,
I had been on Methotrexate for years and it never affected my eyes. I can say that lately I have been having problems with dryness in my eyes and I think it may have to do with the weather. I do live on the eastern shore and it has really been hot and alot of people have complained about their allergies,even though mine don't seem to be bothering me.
My left eye has really been dry. Kind of stuck in the morning when i go to open it. Feels scratchy when I put my contacts in so I have been wearing my glasses instead.
I believe the problem with visine is it can have a rebound effect and also can affect your blood vessels so artifical tears would be best.
Maybe even keep contact solution with you just to keep your contacts moist throughout the day.
Good luck.
Caprie
Posted 8/2/2006 1:47 PM (GMT 0)
Elcamino.....I can't wear contacts, but both of my daughters do, and I tried them. I have very bad astigmatism. The kind I tried were called "Toric" lenses, I think. I could put them in, but I couldn't get them out...

I did have to learn about safely wearing contacts and I stayed at the Holiday Inn last night.

Let me get to the point, if I can find it....Don't you think you need to see you eye doctor? I just wonder what contacts will do to painful eyes. I am ever so cautious. I have cataracts and have had them for quite some time. They just won't get "ripe", ewwa! Sounds like I am talking about a watermelon....My opthamoligist who is very well known, I guess famous for all types of eye surgery, JUST RETIRED! I wanted him to remove these cadillacs from my peepers when the time comes. Oh well...

Take care of them eyes,

Rj
Posted 8/2/2006 2:33 PM (GMT 0)

Hey RJ,

I also have very bad astigmatism (off the charts in one eye, but both are bad).  I wear the toric lenses as well.  I think when I first started wearing them years ago, it took some practice taking them out, as well as putting them in.  I also have to pay a bit more for them, but they make toric disposables these days (yay)! 

I have an appt. with my opthamologist for a visual field test (plaquenil monitoring) and an optic nerve imaging study (I'm a potential glaucoma suspect) in September.  I doubt I could get an earlier appt if I tried.  I see my rheumy in a couple of weeks and I'll mention it to him.  In the meantime, if my eyes don't straighten up I'll ditch the contacts and wear my glasses.

Caprie,  Thanks for sharing your experience with mtx.  Do you mean that you live on the eastern shore of MD?  I live in central MD, and yes the weather has been atrocious lately.  However, I've had this dry eye thing for a while; long before the weather started misbehaving.

Elcamino

Posted 8/3/2006 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
Elcamino,
Yes, The eastern shore of MD. It is very hot and humid but probably the best place to be. Hope your eyes are feeling better. My husband was complaining this morning about his eyes feeling dry and scratchy and he doesn't have arthritis or take meds. He mentioned he believed his problem is from going from the air conditioning into the heat and vice/versa.
I don't know why mine are giving me a hard time but I have been feeling dry alot. Drinking so much water and it doesn't seem to be helping.
Going fishing today!
Take care!
Caprie
Posted 8/7/2006 4:35 AM (GMT 0)
I have problems with my eye's and it all started about three month's after being diagnosed with crohns.I felt like I had gritt in my eye's all the time and my eye's were dry as well.My GI told me to see and eye doctor that dealt with people with auto-immune disease's.I had them checked and lord behold I have sever stigatisam's in both eye's and I as well am fare side.Now I have RA,OA,Sjerens as well so that just added to the mix of problems.I have been wearing glasses for three and a half year's now and I as well have to have bi-folcals to read.I use artiificial teas and it does help and since I'm on Plaquenil I have to have my eye's checked twice a year and I'm not a condiadate for contact's either.I do know that my eye's are getting werse and next month will be the six month that I have been on plaquenil so will see how much werse they have gotten.
Posted 8/7/2006 11:20 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Curley.  Sorry to hear about your eyes.  It sounds like your problems are strikingly similar to mine.  I don't believe it's caused by the plaquenil, though.  If plaquenil affects your eyesight, I believe it contributes to a peripheral vision loss--not related to near or far-sightedness.

Elcamino

Posted 8/7/2006 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
i am gong to try and ask the eye doc at work about that? i am off today and wont be back to the "office" til next monday so i hope i remember to ask him. ~*yalinda
Posted 8/15/2006 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
I'm on Plaquenil and my eyes have gotten worse and I do wear glasses but even with them on every thing is still a blure.
Posted 8/15/2006 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
Mela i am sorry but i forgot to ask, actually i dont know if he was in cuz i didnt see him, but i did forget sry. sad
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply