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My eye hurts--does your eye hurt?

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Posted 4/14/2014 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

I hope it's not annoying when I post lots of questions, but your personal experiences are very helpful to me since I am new to this forum and I haven't experienced remission yet.

I wear glasses, and my vision is ok, but my eyeball hurts and it feels like there is pressure around it and my eyes are kind of bloodshot. Is this happening to anyone else? I don't want to get it checked if it's not a big deal, but it would be nice to make it go away.

I read that sometimes people with IBD have eye problems but I haven't experienced any that lingered until recently. I recently had minor surgery though (not related to the UC) and it has been hard for my stomach to get back to its below par "normal" because of that. Maybe it will go away in a few days? It's probably not urgent, right?
Posted 4/14/2014 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
Eye issues can definitely be related to IBD (extraintestinal manifestations) so it wouldn't be a bad idea to mention it to your GI. The only time my eyes hurt is when I'm pushing so hard to pass a bowel movement that it feels like my eyes are gonna pop right out of my head, of course I get either a stuffed up or a runny nose as well, can't even just sit on the can and do my business (multiple times a day) without it affecting some other body parts lol!
Posted 4/14/2014 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
I was having repeat issues with blood shot eyes before I got on Remicade. This was usually most noticible when I woke up, and would go away after using some visine. I also had several occasions where my eye did hurt because it good so blood shot and inflamed that I needed a topical steroid drop. I didn't realize at the time that this was related to UC. Luckily I haven't had any more reoccurances because of the Remicade.
Posted 4/14/2014 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
UC is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in the large intestine and about 20% of uc patients have inflammation elsewhere in the body as well.

Inflammation of the eye, known as Uveitis, is possible for anyone with autoimmune disorders. The term "uveitis" is used because the diseases often affect a part of the eye called the uvea. Nevertheless, uveitis is not limited to the uvea. These diseases also affect the lens, retina, optic nerve, and vitreous.

If you have taken steroids (e.g., prednisone) then it is more likely you could develop Glaucoma.

Then again it could be nothing. If it persists then see an optometrist who would be able to either diagnose you or confirm it is nothing.
Posted 4/14/2014 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks pb4! I will mention this to my GI doc. Thank you for saying you were straining when it happened to you--that is what is happening to me too. The painkillers they gave after surgery were binding and I wasn't able to go at all for four days (it was scary because it was really uncomfortable) and then for the last two days the pain with BMs has been intense! The stools didn't even look very hard so I'm not sure why so much pain, but ugh. My eyes did feel ready to pop out when that painful urgency hit before each BM (I have 5 or so a day right now). The eye pain is still lingering even though I am done pooping for now, but maybe it's temporary. It's like the UC symptoms never really go away, they just evolve into other unpleasant symptoms. No body part is safe, like you said!
Posted 4/14/2014 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lr21,

Thanks for your post! Did the steroid drops work well for you? It is good to know there are options if the eye pain/bloodshot problem doesn't go away.
Posted 4/14/2014 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks iPoop! I'll see an eye doc if it doesn't go away this week.
Posted 4/14/2014 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, the drops did help after a few days.
Posted 4/14/2014 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
My eyes hurt/burn too. Seen couple different eye docs for it and they just gave me drops. Eyes stay red alot. Thankfully I wear glasses so that masks it a little.
Posted 4/14/2014 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
I've had UC for over 35-40 years. And I've had recurring Iritis for over 10 years.
Iritis or Uveitis is nothing to fool around with, it could easily end up with blindness. My Opthamologist explained that during an Iritis flare, protein floats around inside the eye and if it adheres to the lens it will cause permanent fogging on the lens (very simplified).
The first time I got Iritis my GP diagnosed conjunctivitis and treated it as such. My symptoms got much, much worse, I've never been in so much pain. The symptoms were: very bloodshot eye, EXTREME light sensitivity, and soreness to the touch. When I finally got to my Opthamologist I had a very severe Iritis infection. I was prescribed Pred Forte (a prednisone eye drop) plus another eye drop that dilates the eye so that the muscle can't flex, thus causing the pain. (I was lucky that it responded to the Pred Forte and they didn't need to inject directly into the eye). Treatment takes about six weeks. Since that first infection I have been getting about three infections a year. I always have some Pred Forte on hand so I can treat immediately when I feel the symptoms, but then I have to have the doctor check it out as soon as possible. I will say that since going gluten free, I've had fewer Iritis'.
So, may I suggest that if (along with the redness and pain) you also are light sensitive, go see an eye doctor asap.
Posted 4/14/2014 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi UCplusIritis,

I'm sorry that you've been having ongoing infections. That sounds awful. I haven't noticed sensitivity to light since I bought glasses two years ago, and I just touched my eyelids to see if it hurts more when I touch my eyes, but thankfully it doesn't. In your experience, did more symptoms come about as time passed, or were all three present simultaneously and worsened together?

I am following a wheat and gluten free diet and that helped with the joint pain I used to experience, but this eye problem is new and I really appreciate that you shared your experience. I probably should see an eye doctor just in case.
Posted 4/14/2014 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
I would definitely go see your eye doc to be on the safe side!

I had read somewhere that Uveitis can be a serious symptom of UC, so I had myself checked out when I was first diagnosed with UC, I told her I had UC, and my doc gave me the all clear...but failed to mention that dry itchy eyes are often linked to UC....Its so depressing, you would have thought she would have known that, being an Opthamologist...and it cost me $100 for the frigging appointment.

I only discovered a couple of days ago, through this forum, that the reason my eyes are itchy and dry is due to UC!...bugger!


mad
Posted 4/14/2014 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
My GI asked me about my eyes, if they ever hurt or got red. Mine don't, but I thought it was interesting he asked.
Posted 4/14/2014 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
I would say there is no mistaking it when you get an Iritis infection. It does not get better on its own and if left untreated the pain would force you to seek help. The light sensitivity is a sure sign and if you aren't experiencing that I would think that it is not Iritis. Unless you experience it you can't imagine how often your eye expands and contracts with the light. Before I got help from my eye doctor I tried to get out of the light by wearing a blindfold, in a dark room, at night, under the covers, and I still got pain from the contracting and expanding. First thing my doctor did was freeze the eye (with drops) and wow what a relief.
Personally, I would let the pain dictate whether or not to go to the eye doctor. My eye doctor did ask right away if I had Ulcerative Colitis because he has seen it quite often in patients with recurring Iritis.
Fun, fun, fun, isn't it? I hope your eyes calm down, you've got enough to worry about.
Posted 4/14/2014 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
I had eye pain from time to time. It is sometimes sinus pressure but I had it checked out by an ophthalmologist in the fall to be safe. He told me to call whenever I have eye pain so he can make sure it isn't serious.
Posted 4/15/2014 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
Yup! Haven't chatted with a doc about it, but I've noticed my eyes tend to get red and painful when my insides are acting up.
Posted 4/15/2014 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
I hope UCplusIritis sees this....

I mentioned that I was recently checked out for Uveiti with a special slit lamp...and I was given the all clear.

I also mentioned that my eyes were slightly itchy, usually first thing in the morning when I get up, BUT whats been happening over the last few days is that I appear to be more sensitive to light, and my vision is slightly blurred sometimes, so of course I researched Iritis, and I have no pain whatsoever, with no redness...so I am just looking for reassurance really, could this just be another symptom of my itchy eyes, because surely during the slip lamp examination recently the doc would have picked that up?

I altered my computer monitor yesterday, as it seemed too bright, but today it still seems too bright!
Posted 4/15/2014 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Poppie,

I hope you are ok and that UCplusIritis sees your post.
Posted 4/15/2014 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
When I get an Iritis my light sensitivity causes a lot of pain. It's the dilation that causes the pain. You don't realize it but your eyes are dilating constantly, even when your eyes are closed. And if I put my finger on the lid and push slightly it is quite painful too. I always get a pretty red eyeball too.

Also, please note, while it's not unheard of, most often you only get Iritis in one eye at a time.

Symptoms increase pretty rapidly if it's not treated, that's why I always have some Pred Forte on hand. My first one wasn't treated right away because I didn't know what I had, and by day four I was screaming in pain. I still get eye soreness occasionally from normal things like strain, tiredness, sinus, etc., but because I've had experience with Iritis I immediately can tell the difference. Sounds like you've been dealing with this for a few days now, so my guess is that it's not Iritis.

Call the doctor is you're still worried though. I hope I helped some.
Posted 4/15/2014 10:13 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you, no I don't think its Iritis judging from your description of symptoms, I think I need to fiddle with my computer monitor again..thank you for letting me know.

Thanks Colitis32!
Posted 4/16/2014 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
One of my coworkers, who also has UC, has been having a uveitis flare for over a month, just in one eye. She claims to have no intestinal flare symptoms. I feel really bad for her...it looks painful. She is using steroid drops every two hours.

Of course, she cannot wear makeup...so she just looks *different* Not bad, but she doesn't look like her usual professional, put-together self. :(
Posted 4/16/2014 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
I just stumbled across this post, and my eyes have been really bothering me lately, and I haven't seen an eye doctor in years...and some of these symptoms match mine. Ive had UC for 39 years now, and I recently have been put on Simponi. My eyes have been bothering me a lot, pain, blurred vision, and they have really been going downhill as of late more than usual...time to get this checked out.

I was just reading up on uveitis, and interestingly enough...they say anti-TNF (Remicade, HUmira, Simponi) drugs are sometimes helpful...go figure!....
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