Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Affect Eyes?
Rheumatoid arthritis eyes are the net adverse effect of what rheumatoid arthritis can do to the eyes. Being primarily a joint and bone disease rheumatoid arthritis can often affect other systems in the body, including the eyes. This post will primarily focus on the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis eyes.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Eye Conditions
The most prevalent symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis eyes include:
- Dry eyes
- Sclera (scleritis) inflammation
- Inner part of the eye (uveitis) inflammation
-Inflammation of the episclera (episcleritis), the surface membrane covering the white part (sclera) of the eye
Artificial tears have been one source of an effective treatment for dry eyes. Anti-inflammatory medications and corticosteroid eye drops have been used to treat episcleritis, uveitis and scleritis. As mentioned above all symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis eyes.
It is important to note that dry eyes can also be a symptom of Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that is often associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
This post has touched briefly on the most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis eyes. If you are currrently suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and have any of the following symptoms:
- Light sensitivity
- Blurred vision
- Eye pain
- Dry eyes
Your first order of business should be to get an evaluation from your opthalmologist. In some cases you should also seek out the advice of a rheumatologist.
