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Conjuctivitis and UC?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/28/2012 5:32 AM (GMT 0)
I've been getting pink eye every two or three weeks since the summer of last year. It just goes away on its own and then pops back up a week later. It looks really ugly and I'm just about fed up with it. I change my pillows and towels frequently, and I also avoid touching my eyes unless I've washed my hands properly with soap. I've even tried antibiotic drops, but I don't think they help much.

Could this be related to my UC in any way? I haven't really noticed any other extraintestinal symptoms from my UC, so I can't be sure.
Posted 1/28/2012 5:37 AM (GMT 0)
Could be if it's not an infection, although an infection can be secondary. My conjunctiva swells and kind of kinks in the corners..but they're quite dry sometimes and I use allergy drops as well as Systane. I've found the perfect combo for now.

What other drops are you using? The antibiotic drops can make them redder...if you don't have an infection, then don't use them. You're better off to use antiredness drops maybe once a day and use something like Systane (wetting drops) often throughout the day.

Are you lids along the lashes red as well?

I thought I might have Sjogren's because my sister has it with serious eye issues. I was checked and no... but I still have to find the balance of allergy/dryness preparations. Only sometimes do I use the antibiotic drops.

q
Posted 1/28/2012 5:44 AM (GMT 0)
The antibiotic drops weren't helping so I stopped using them more than three months ago. I'm not using any other drops at the moment. There doesn't seem to be any redness along the lids, and there's no swelling either.
Posted 1/28/2012 5:53 AM (GMT 0)
That's good!

I would sugest you at the very least purchase wetting drops. I use the Systane Ultra whenever. Plus the Bausch & Lomb Redness in the morning when I get up and after I remove my eye make-up before I go to bed. One drop ONLY in each eye.

What soap do you use on your eyes and do you use any lotion, hair product..etc? Do you use any dryer sheets for your bedding?

q
Posted 1/28/2012 6:14 AM (GMT 0)
there is an "autoimmune conjunctivitis" related to uc
Posted 1/28/2012 6:35 AM (GMT 0)
So if this actually is being caused by my UC, is it going to stick around forever? I find that worrying as it was at its worst during the summer, right when my UC was nonexistent I felt the most relaxed I've ever been. College was out and I had four months all to myself...

I'll get the wetting eye drops, but I should also mention that there's no pain or discomfort of any sort.

Post Edited (Max89) : 1/28/2012 12:01:40 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/28/2012 1:42 PM (GMT 0)
If it continues you might want to see an ophthalmologist and have them check your tear production. I have Dry eye syndrome and my tear production was rather low. At first I used a lot of different brands of dry eye drops but eventually I had to go on Restasis, which is a prescription (optical cyclosporine). Dry eye syndrome can cause your eyes to look red almost all the time and make them feel tired.
Posted 1/28/2012 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
i too had conjunctivitus and it was sue to asacol.  as soon as i stopped taking it it disappeared .  you can look up asascol and related meds on internet and you will see side effects
Posted 1/28/2012 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
I wasn't getting any side effects from my oral 5-ASAs, but it did seem to make a come back around the time I started the enemas. I find that a little odd though since the enemas should act locally and side effects should be minimal. The difference this time is that there isn't any of that yellow gooey stuff (pus/mucus?) on the corners of my eyes, meaning there might not be an infection.

Anyway, I've only got two weeks of nightly enemas left, and then I'm going to begin tapering off. I'll see what happens then.

Post Edited (Max89) : 1/28/2012 10:52:23 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/28/2012 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
It could be autoimmune, not CAUSED by UC, but linked through having autoimmune. If you're flaring, it could flare as well.

But....still use the wetting drops a few times a day.

Curious about where you live...meaning what's the weather like? My eyes get VERY sensitive if I'm out and about driving when they've put tons of salt on the roads, which whips up with exhaust and dirt and dust...

q
Posted 1/28/2012 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
Canada. There's salt on the roads, but it's not really that cold outside. Temperate hovers between -5 and +5 Celsius, and I don't really stay outdoors for too long during the winter months. Whatever this is, I just hope it doesn't become a permanent problem...
Posted 1/28/2012 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
My philosophy, have an arsenal of meds/preparations to deal with symptoms no matter where on your body you have them. If there is a continual irritation or inflammation, especially those of us with autoimmune, things can get out of hand before we ralise. Reactions that normally wouldn't bother us, do all of a sudden.

For me....a walk around Home Outfitters, starting at one side and ending at the other, shopping longer than half an hour has my eyes sore.
Home Sense...yikes! 10 minutes and my eyes are RED. Lots of fumes from produts.


The wetting drops, ones that can be long lasting, will be helpful, and use them often to start. BUT....keep in mind that sometimes we can be sensitive to some of the ingredients. There are preparations that have NO preservatives and come in ovules to use. trial and more trial...Ka-Ching!

If you spend lots of time on the computer, make sure you blink more often.

The game's afoot Watson!
q
Posted 1/29/2012 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
It sure could be related to the UC. I had very similar issues years ago with recurrent conjunctivitis. Then, last year, I had episcleritis which was AWFUL. My opthomologist referred me to an eye surgeon who asked right off the bat whether I had an autoimmune disease... Apparently, it's even rather common for folks who have UC to have other types of inflammation throughout the body, even when not flaring.

That said, if you touch your face a lot during the day, even if your hands are 'clean,' you could be spreading bacteria, so make an effort to keep your hands away from your face/eyes.
Posted 1/29/2012 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
Could dehydration also have anything to do with this? My urine is pretty dark since I've been drinking way less water since the start of this month. My class schedule is packed so I'm on campus for 7-9 hours a day, and I sort of forget about eating or drinking during that time.
Posted 1/29/2012 9:07 AM (GMT 0)
I think being dehydrated in general can exacerbate synmptoms such as dry eyes, dry mouth, dry skin...etc. But if you're busy, in a heated environment for long hours, stressed, looking at a computer, lecturer, etc...it can add to it.

You won't know if you get relief until you try something to help. At least in the morning when you wake-up and before bedtime and once in between try the drops.

If you are dehydrated, bring water with you...

It's always good to eat and replenish liquids as well as you can.

I'm not saying your eye situation isn't autoimmune, I'm saying don't assume it is and one of the symptoms of red eyes is dryness. Address that first. And regardless if it is or isn't...you should still be treating eye dryness.

q
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