Today for the first time, I have experienced eye pain in my right eye. My left eye is pretty much looked over, because I have always had the 'lazy eye' in it.
I also am having more blurriness in my vision. I feel sometimes like I am turning up my bottle of eye drops, and just letting the drops flow. I have punctal plugs in my eyes too.
I will be ok I'm sure, but thought I would touch base, and see if anyone experiences this to see what you had to do if anything.
I have always taken my plaquenil, but though they have always told me to take it 2 per day, I have only taken it 1 per day due to how it makes me nauseous.
Thanks all,
susanep
Dry eye can bring pain along with it, depending on the inflammation in the eye, and the depth of the dryness.
My eyes are 0 R. 3 L. In my Schirmers test. My flourescin test is bad....I have a 0 for my Tear Break Up Time (TBUT). As soon as my eyes make tears, they evaporate off! My oil glands are effected. It is probably MGD-- meimbomian gland disease -- in my case, plus Sjogren's. I have the SSA antibody, 8.0. Anything above 1 is positive. I'm an overachiever! My sed rate is above 120, actually 123. Doc says I should not be alive with this kind of inflammation present.
I was on Plaquenil for 2 years.....until I couldn't pass my Plaquenil Field Vision Test. Cellcept. And now Methotrexate. I have punctal plugs in my lowers. Restasis helped, as long as I was on Plaquenil. It no longer works for me. I have cornea damage too....I heard him record the size of spots on the flourescin test. And my IOPs are high too....but so is my cornea thickness too. They subtract 7 off my score cuz of it.
See, it could always be worse! Lol.
By the way, I use Systane Balance Restorative eye drops. Get samples & coupons from your eye doc.
They really do give relief, if you have a oil problem like mine.
I'd get it checked by an ophthalmologist if I were you. Yes, dry eye does cause pain now and then, a dry socket can feel almost like sinus pain does but in the eye. On the other hand it could also be eyestrain which an eyeglass prescription might relieve. It could also be an infection of the optic nerve for which intervention is urgent. I've gone to the eye doc and had each of the three be the result at different times. Wouldn't help to rule out other kinds of damage or problems. Hopefully be the time you read this the problem has resolved on its own. Please update the thread one way or the other.
I do use the systane eye drops. That is the only kind I use. I wear glasses, and even when He says I don't need my prescription changed, I can have all the blurriness etc. with my eyes.
Yes, I know it can always be worse. I am thankful for not being worse at this point.
I will keep you all updated as I can.
susanep :)
susanep
when I have any hint of trouble with my eyes, I call my opthalmologist for spot check. Especially if I get the occasional eye pain even though I am doing everything that works to keep my eyes lubed.
So much of what we CAN do is dependent on our eyes. We only get one set of peeps, so in my view it's far better to err on the part of caution and be seen than to err on the assumption that oh it's probably part of "new normal" and later regret not having it checked out.
AND, if you are on Plaquenil, there's that tiny risk of retina problems. All the more reason to call your eye doc if you are on that medication.
Hugs
Amanda
Hello, I've been here a while reading but not posted.
I see you have Hypothyroidism along with the CTDs. I do too, and can only agree with the others that it would be a good idea to get an ophthalmologist to run some checks.
I currently have a lot of problems with left eye, including occasional pain in the eyeball and around the socket, which are under investigation. There's also a vitreous detachment, a bit of thinning on the lens that appeared immediately after a photosensitive reaction earlier this year, and visual field in that eye has deteriorated. My right is pretty much ok except for dryness.
I did have an eye reaction to hydroxychloroquine within 24 hours of starting it. Three quite large black patches appeared in my right vision and I was told to stop taking HC immediately by the hospital. The patches took a good 9 months to disappear. I expect eye problems due to long term HC use might present differently though.
I know what you mean about the blurriness - I also wear glasses and sometimes feel they need cleaning except they are crystal clear and the smearing is on my eyes; it sometimes feels as though I'm looking through a mist.
daisy
QuoteI see you have Hypothyroidism along with the CTDs. I do too, and can only agree with the others that it would be a good idea to get an ophthalmologist to run some checks.
Good catch on that hypothyroidism. I forgot all about that. My vision such as blurry episodes ties into when my thyroid levels are out of wack, especially when I go hyPOthyroid.
So, susanep, if after a visit with your opthalmologist to make sure your eyes are good - if is still a problem, next step would probably be a good idea to have your thyroid levels checked justin case.