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Irritated eyes - from my UC?

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Posted 6/27/2008 8:09 PM (GMT 0)

While reading some of the excellent resource literature available here, I discovered that UC might be the source of some frequent eye irritation I’ve been experiencing on and off for the past year. The symptoms are: eyes tear continuously, puffy bags underneath, and I can’t quit rubbing them to wipe the tears away - which increases the irritation. I saw an ophthalmologist about a year ago and she basically just sent me away with over the counter eye drops and instructions to keep my eye on them (pun intended) and come back if the condition worsens. Well, it’s not really any worse – it comes and goes – but it is very annoying.

 

Anybody else experience this eye irritation on a regular basis, or at all?

Posted 6/27/2008 8:26 PM (GMT 0)

Hi LightenUp, and welcome to HealingWell. There was some posts recently about eye problems and Uveitis. I'll post the link for you so you check into it.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1139086


Posted 6/27/2008 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
hi Lightenup,

I had a problem w/one eye doing that and I got some Patanol eye drops from the Doc, it took about a month but now my eye is not tearing up anymore.
Posted 6/27/2008 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
I used to have perfect vision and perfect eyes until I had UC for a few years and took lots of prednisone over that time. Now I have to wear glasses in order to see more than 10 feet in front of me (and after a year my prescription is already needing to be changed), my eyes are always dry/tearing up and they're very sensitive to light. Just another extra "treat" to go along with this stupid disease, I guess.
Posted 6/28/2008 1:49 PM (GMT 0)
My vision definitely changes when my flare gets worse (or maybe I'm just older and more tired so it has a magnified effect). I also get very painful, itchy eyes. It goes away.

My eye doctor actually knows quite a bit about uc and we definitely discuss it when I have my check-ups.
Posted 6/28/2008 7:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

I have the same exact thing with my eyes and have for years. Watery, itchy, redness, bags but despite having had UC for 46 years, not one doctor has said a word....not until I came here did I know. It feels like allergies only I was tested and I have no allergies. But still, when it is bad, I take benadryl allergy meds and it seems to help a little.
Posted 6/30/2008 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
I have come across the same tearing and irritation problems and my eye doc just gave some drops that didn't really do much. I never had this problem before so I am assuming it's just another prednisone side effect.
Posted 6/30/2008 8:40 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for all the responses, it seems that we all have pretty much similiar stories to tell.

Loneylane, I don't believe my symptoms are as severe as those described for Uveitis/iritis - I don't really have any pain nor light sensitivity, just "leaking" eyeballs - but I'll definately talk with my eye doc. about it.

stogieFL, you may be right in blaming the Prednisone for this, and maybe it's the cause for my issues also. I have never suffered from alergies of any kind, although living in Florida with it's year 'round growing season does change everything for us northern transplants.

The resource I read that named UC as also responsible for possible eye problems identified "inflamation" of the eye as the expected result.

The only medication that relieves my UC to any extent is Prednisone and I can't seem to get below 10mg/day without major UC symptoms recurring, so I've been ingesting Pred. for a good part of the last several years while trying the many maintenance meds. Could it (the pred.) be trying to fight some UC eye inflamation and my eyes are naturally tearing as a result of that? A good question for my GI.

Posted 6/30/2008 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
Dry eye is a common condition for Uc'ers. That is one of the "extra-intestinal" manifestations of Uc. I also have that and when it starts to bother me, I use OTC eye drops for dry eye - Bausch and Lomb make a good one or you can try Systane. Try to stay away from redness relievers since they can have the rebound effect which means it can make your eyes dependent on them to keep them clear. Also, some antihistamines can actually have a drying effect to the eyes.
Posted 7/1/2008 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
I've taken Prednisolone (10 to 30mg/day) for the past 7 months, I don't get eye irritation much, but instead start seeing "halos" around bright lights (car headlights, street lights etc).
They can get as big as 4 times the size of the actual light source!

Tests done in January didn't reveal anything serious, I've only been prescribed regular over-the-counter eye drops, like most of you here it seems.
I am short-sighted since childhood.
Posted 7/1/2008 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hello
I get this too....i have it today ..itchy eye ..irritation...puffy bags ...tearing ....i have never had Pred...yet !!!!
Posted 7/1/2008 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
Some of most common symptoms of dry eye:

Feeling like there is something in your eye (foreign body sensation)
Scratchy, gritty eyes
Aching or sore eyes
Smarting or burning eyes
Eyes tire easily, particularly noticeable from reading, watching TV or using a computer
Contact lens discomfort or intolerance
Excessive mucus discharge
Watery eyes
Eyes easily irritated by smoke
Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
Fluctuating vision
Blurred vision, particularly first thing in the morning, and/or late in the day
Eyelids "stick shut" at night
Eyelids feel "heavy
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