Ever Have Eye Problems?

Anybody ever have any eye problems they thought were related to Crohn's? I've been flaring for several months now, and have been on prednisone about as long, but I don't think I have any lasting prednisone-related eye problems. However, a couple of weeks ago I woke up with burning pain in my left eye, severe eye socket pain (due to inflammation), and profuse tearing. I went to the eye doctor and they said there was an ulcer in the first layer of my cornea. I also get occasional PG and mouth ulcers, so I got to wondering if this is just another ulcer. My vision in that eye was also very cloudy due to anti-bodies or some type of cells floating around on the surface of the eye. The eye doctor gave me antibiotic and prednisolone eye drops and my eye rapidly recovered. They also said that ulcers within the first layer almost always heal without any lasting damage. Now, two weeks later, my other eye is having the same symptoms, though much less severe. With this crazy disease if it's not one or a half-dozen things, it's any of seemingly dozens others.

ivy6 said...
Your symptoms sound nasty, GDen.

Um, thanks? As "nasty" as my symptoms may sound, I know many others who endure much more.

Doesn't sound like episcleritis as that page states the cornea remains clear. I'm sure the eye doctors would've said so if they thought it was. They said it could also just be due to bacteria, which are kept in check less due to the prednisone. My left eye's back to normal and my right seems to be recovering. Anyway, rapid treatment seems very important as I think penetration to deeper layers could result in lasting scarring.

I had uveitis in both of my eyes one right after the other, same symptoms as yours. My dr gave me steriod drops and a dialating drop to keep the iris dialated and relaxed to help get rid of the inflammation. It took a few months to go completely away, that was one of the first symptoms I had from the Crohns before I found out I had it!

A few times a year I get a period of about the same(not as severe) as what you describe and I don't use meds so related to my crohns. Jumps eye to eye, disappears then comes back later. It is weird:)