HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

photosensitivity and dry eyes

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/25/2010 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone.  I know I have come across this a few times in various posts but I just wanted to ask again.  Does anyone here experience photosensitivity and or dry eyes.  A few years ago I was put on a very high amount of prednisone, 60 mg.  Shortly thereafter I developed an aversion to very sunny days because it hurt my eyes.  Even now I need sunglasses because the brightness hurts my eyes.  Also I developed dry eyes.  I also use OTC eye drops throughout the day to help.  I know there is a relationship between this stuff and UC.  I was just wondering if any you have the same stuff?

MyUC

Posted 6/25/2010 8:33 AM (GMT 0)
It might be, but then it might not You're on Imuran, and photosensitivity is definitely a side effect.

My eyes have always been sensitive to sun...and you might have autoimune eye issues or just "getting older" eyes.

What otc drops are you using.

You might also consider to use something such as Opticrom if your eyes tend to get red and reactive.

My conjunctiva seems "swollen"...I've found this has helped. I've been tested for autoimmune eye disease...thought I had Sjogren's because my sister has it, but NO, don't. Just have dry eyes...maybe it's related to UC or just by the fact of having lots of sensitivities, etc.

I also use Systane...seems good.

q
Posted 6/25/2010 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not photosensitive but I feel like I can't see as well as I used to. Things far away. I used to be able to read anything. I still can but it's a lot more effort.
Posted 6/25/2010 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Interesting. I've also been photosensitive too... I always wear sunglasses when I am out unless it is completely overcast and dark. Even when there's a thin cloud layer I still need sunglasses when no one else does. Inside as well, I like to have lights on dimmer switches so I can turn them down. I hate going to my in-laws. They have their lights on bright enough to be seen from space, all the time. They're on dimmer switches but whenever I or my husband try to turn them down, even explaining they hurt my eyes, they still go back over and crank them up again.
Posted 6/25/2010 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
I can't see anything anymore. Been happening for several years though. May just be time for glasses. Apptn. on Tue.
Posted 6/25/2010 11:26 PM (GMT 0)

I didn't know that photosensitivity can be from Imuran.  I use Systane OTC and even use Restasis prescription eye drops.  Thanks for the replies.  And oh yeah also developed some floaters.  Had my eyes checked by a number of optometrists and opthamologists and all is good.

Keep the replies coming.

MyUC

Posted 6/26/2010 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
I have noticed dry eye as well as a lot of pressure and sometimes pain. Since I've been on pred for 4 months now I'm getting worried about them and am getting them checked on Monday. I haven't noticed any extra photo sensitivity but I have always been a big sunglass wearer so, maybe...
Posted 6/26/2010 7:52 AM (GMT 0)
I have quite a few floaters....some days driving on bright days, it's worse because of my eyes moving so much from side to side. But, I don't notice them with sunglasses on, thankfully.

q
Posted 6/26/2010 11:26 AM (GMT 0)

Thanks again for all of your replies.  A special thanks to you q for your second reply.  I know this is going to sound wierd or dumb or both but the floater stuff really freaked me out when it happened.  I thought there was something really wrong with my eyes because it came out of the blue.  It just so happened that the sensitivity to light and dry eyes came along at around the same time I started on these stronger drugs for my UC.  Even after reassurances from eye doctors I was really worried.  Now I have kind of gotten use to it.

But now that I know Q has got them (floaters) I feel better LOL.  I agree sunglass really do help.

MyUC

Posted 6/26/2010 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
LOL....misery loves company, but in a nice way too!


I HATE them....and I agree that they kind of freaked me out too. When you get your eyes checked, did you have a retinal scan done as well? That, to me, is reassuring.I don't notice them on the computer either, again, a good thing. We might have even more floaters, the ones that we see are the ones in the line of vision. Worse is they follow the same path. I've also had little white thingies sometimes floating across, again...the doc said nothing to worry about. But, I have 2 clients who've had retinal detacment, made me even more freaked out about my floaters. I just know to pay attention if there are any other changes and see the optomitrist asap if anything is out of the ordinary.q
Posted 6/26/2010 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
I HIGHLY recommend you see an eye specialist.  I have a cornea disease called fuchs dystrophy diagnosed about 20 years ago.  My sister has it too.  We both had to have cornea transplants.  Dry eye is definitely a symptom and vision changes.  I noticed when on prednisone for the 5 months my vision was not as good but went to my surgeon and he said they were ok. 

Just don't mess around with your eyes - my Mom was blind last 5 years of her life and told me how terrible it is!

ElaineNY

Posted 6/26/2010 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
I have a floater, too. One in my right eye is particularly annoying. I'm sure I look like a weirdo when it distracts me and I follow it around. lol :o)
Posted 6/26/2010 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
This thread has made me feel a lot better about this.  Yes q, I have had a retinal scan, 3 infact, all good on that front.  kopstoda, I have seen a number of eye doctors, both optometrists and opthamologitsts, they are all happy with what they see.  Believe me I like most people take their vision very seriously. 

On a funnier note, I HATE the eye floaters.  I have them in both eyes.  Just last night I took the family to an ice cream stand.  We met up with friends and while I was talking to my friend a stringy bungy cord floater flew into my field of vision because I turned my head suddenly.  So there I am talking to this friend trying not to be distracted by this long thin floater that is front of his face.  I guess I wasn't good at disguising my distraction because my wife says to me, "What the hell are you looking at?"  I didn't realize I was staring not at my friend but my friendly floater that resides in my eyeball.  2 funny.

Good, I am not alone on this.

MyUC

Posted 6/26/2010 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
wow, I don't have a bungy cord one...ooooo. Definitely funny when someone notices a change in your behaviour because if them. Eventually you'll "notice" them, but not focus on them.

One doctor suggested I stand on my head to bring them out of my field of vision. I'm thinking...uh, not wanting to make another trail for them.

I wonder if some meds such as bilberry or lutein or beta carotene (or whatever) would be helpful in preventing more?

welcome to aging....sucks.

q
Posted 6/27/2010 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
Floaters are the pits! I got an upside-down U thingy in my left eye as part of an allergic reaction to calcitriol, an Rx vitamin D supplement aka Drisdol. My ophthalmologist said that the matter detached from the back of my eyeball so I'll never get rid of it "because it has no place to go". (Whereas most floaters are material detached from the sides & may move out of one's field of vision.) IBDers should definitely have an annual check-up by a medical doctor specializing in the eye, to test for glaucoma, etc. Some of the meds we take can induce cataracts or glaucoma over time, especially steroids. Sulfasalazine may cause photosensitivity; I got off it for that reason earlier in my UC career. For dry eye the otc natural tears has been my mainstay ever since the ophthal recommended it over a decade ago. One should avoid otc eye drops that claim to get the redness out-- those may constrict blood vessels in the eye! SO-- no, My UC, you're not alone with these problems! / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 6/27/2010 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
Q's idea about bilberry, lutein, and carotene may hold some merit for light sensitivity and dry eyes. Anecdotically my dry eyes were helped when I began fish oil years ago. Later I saw some research supporting omega 3's for dry eyes when I googled it. I get floaters on and off and now I am trying to see if there is a correlation with my floaters and certain foods.

I had my eyes thoroughly checked after my last flare when my eyes became inflamed.
Posted 6/27/2010 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
Just be careful of Lutein. It might cause some problems with your Uc....I know it did mine. I don't have floaters but on occasion. However, I am now on Restasis and I'm glad to say that my tear production has increased twice fold in my right eye and in my left eye, only about 2 (my left was at 9 and my right at 11 - now my left is at 11 and my right is at 23).

Dry eye syndrome is very typical for IBD'ers as well as other eye complications.

edited to add: I have the photosensitivity too but I've had that since I was 12 years old when I got the German Measles.

Posted 6/28/2010 3:50 AM (GMT 0)
lutein causing problems for your UC? interesting. Must check out what it actually does. I know it's from a flower, or read in the past that it was...could be because you might have been allergic to the active ingredient?

off to google.
Posted 6/28/2010 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
seems it's a carotenoid found in lots of veggies, but many supplements have it derived from the marigold flower oleoresin (which is a mixture of the resin and oil).

Google is the coolest thing...lol.

q
Posted 6/28/2010 10:56 AM (GMT 0)
LOL Heather! Gotta love the Google :) Yep, it bothered my Uc a bit. I was having issues with my eyes and this was before I knew I had Dry Eye so I thought I would try Lutein. After about the 3rd day of taking it, I started having D and that was the only thing a the time that was new. And when I stopped, so did my symptoms. I have such a weird system! So either my Uc doesn't like it or my whole body doesn't.
Posted 6/28/2010 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much for the replies.  It's comforting to know I am not alone on this subject.  Again eye docs say all is OK, just yearly check ups.  I will seriously consider the use of Fish Oil supplements.  Right now I just take an occasional multivitamin or eat a lot of Total cereal.

Again, thanks

MyUC

Posted 6/29/2010 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
omg i have photosensitivity and eye floaters too!!! i've been photosensitive all my life but now that i think about it, i've noticed my first eye floater a couple years ago (around when i was diagnosed w/ uc). i was never on imuran tho, just lialda, apriso, canasa, rowasa, and everyone's fave:prednisone... you are definitely not alone and neither am i anymore...=)
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply