Eye Problem

I woke up yesterday with some irritation of my right eye.  I thought maybe I got some lotion in it, so it would be flushed out before too long.  But that doesn't seem to be the case.  The white of my eye is bloodshot.  It feels like there is grit or something in my eye when I blink.  Weirdest thing is some white/milky coloured film around the upper-left rim of my iris.  Hurts a bit when I move my eye, and very sensitive to light.  In fact, a great stabbing pain when exposed to anything other than dim light.

Never had anything like this before, so no idea what it is.  I'm usually the type to wait and see if it goes away, but it is still here today.  I did some research on the internet and I can't tell if it is an infection or inflammation.  In any case, everything I read says go to your doctor!  Man I hate to do that, I am there so often I feel like I am going to get one of those letters telling me to leave them alone.

Anyway, I finally gave in and called... soonest appt I could get is Friday morning.

During my research I read that IBD-ers are prone to iritis/uveitis??  Anyone have experience with this?

Well that would be frustrating, not to get any answers. Does your eye hurt at all?

Hmm. Yeah if it weren't for the pain I think I would just try to deal with it on my own.

That is the kind of thing I was reading on the internet.... On the one hand I feel panicky and hope that Friday is prompt enough. On the other hand, I still feel like my doctor is going to be sick of seeing me! I wonder if I am the patient she sees most often. Sigh...

Poop on them, LOL! That's what I should have done to the assistant at her old office. She was clearly getting sick of seeing me... and I was in full scale flare at that time, so I could have easily done it! HAH. At least my doctor has moved to a new office, so although she's seen me a million times, this will be only the second time this assistant has seen me.

Well, she already told me the soonest was Friday morning, so I think I will just wait. It hasn't gotten any worse since it started (yesterday morning) so hopefully it's ok to wait one more day.

"I read that IBD-ers are prone to iritis/uveitis?? Anyone have experience with this?"

Yes!

Get to an eye doctor...ASAP. Don't rely on your GI or regular doctor for this, it is not their specialty.

Your in trouble if the floaters are showing up. Within a matter of hours, thousands of floaters were visible.

I started with irritation and redness in one eye, photosensitive, blood shot red eye ....waited for my appointment a week later, and spent the next year battling Uveitis. I went to the eye doctor for follow ups 2-3 times PER WEEK for many months. I used Pred Forte (prednisone) eye drops every 20 minutes round the clock.

Just FYI, when your exposed to so much prednisone in the eye, (they say around 2000 drops) early cataracts form, and it's true, I have cataracts.

I was so sensitive to light, I put wool blankets on my bedroom window and stayed in the dark all day.

Uveitis is serious and incredibly painful.

I now have it in both eyes, and when it flares, you can bet I'll get in to see a doctor within hours. Most eye doctors consider it an emergency. With a hx of UCD, they should get you in much sooner.

If I had gone in the same day the symptoms showed up, I would not have the vision loss I have today.

I have found that stress, lack of sleep and anything foreign (ie., shampoo) in my eye can start a flare.

Hi ACK

I had Uvitis too.  Apparently it is basically an inflamation of the eye but can be serious.  I was treated as an outpatient in the Eye & Ear hospital but they threatened to take me in if it didn't improve.

Since then I have had other problems with my eyes. High pressure & dryness.

Basically GO TO A HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY  - and preferably a specialist one.  I don't want to scare you and my outcome was great but it does need specialist attention.

Hope all goes well

Beta