Re: eye inflammation & uveitis question

[Guest guest]

Recently, my daughter has had a couple of episodes, where one or both eyes are very bloodshot for a couple of days at a time...so red that we thought she was getting conjuctivitis but the dr said no because there was no itching or discharge. It too seems to coincide with some of her worst joint days. Allergy drops do not help. She has never been checked for uveitis - her rheumy brought up the subject last visit, but then dismissed the notion. Do kids with uveitis have bad vision in the early stages? Am I worrying too much, or is it a good idea to have them checked to be sure? Thank you, (, 16, cvid, spondy, fibro, migraines)

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out

new cars at Autos.

[Guest guest]

My son has spondy, and when he was first diagnosed his rheumy

recommended that he get his eyes checked every 6 months. Then,

after being checked 3 times with no inflammation, she said he could

go to being checked once a year. That's what we've been doing ever

since.

People with spondy, if they get uveitis, usually get a different

type of uveitis than other kids with JRA. They get acute anterior

uveitis, or acute iritis. Acute iritis is very painful so you

immediately know that there is a problem and would go straight to a

doctor. It is different than the silent uveitis that other JRA kids

get.

I copied this from the Spondylitis website, about iritis:

http://www.spondylitis.org/about/complications.aspx#

" Iritis or Anterior Uveitis (Inflammation of the eye)

About one third to 40% of people with spondylitis will experience

inflammation of the eye at least once. Iritis is a serious

complication which requires immediate medical attention from an eye

doctor. Here is some general information:

Signs/Symptoms - Symptoms often occur in one eye at a time, and they

may include redness, pain, sensitivity to light and skewed vision.

An ophthalmologist can use a special slit lamp microscope to

distinguish iritis from other causes of eye redness or irritation.

Treatment - Normally iritis is treated using cortcosteroid eyedrops

and dilating agent eyedrops. "

I think my rheumy is being very conservative by sending even

once a year to have his eyes checked. From what I've read, since he

has spondy and as long as he is ANA negative, it really isn't

necessary since it's highly unlikely he'd have silent uveitis.

I have had iritis in one eye three times (I have undifferentiated

spondy)and when I had it there was no question there was something

very wrong with my eye. From one day to the next it really, really

HURT as if I had been wacked with a baseball bat in my eye. And it

felt like I had grains of sand floating around in my eye. The

redness was only in one area (where it hurt the most), not the whole

white part. And my vision was blurry in that eye. There's no way

it would have gone away on its own. I was on steriod drops and

dialating drops for months each time.

You might want to take your daughter to an opthomologist just to

touch base and see what he has to say. He would know more about

uveitis than your rheumy.

There is a pretty active forum about iritis/anterior uveitis at

www.iritis.org. You might want to check them out.

(, aged 14 with HLA B27+ spondy, migraines)

>

> Recently, my daughter has had a couple of episodes, where one or

both eyes are very bloodshot for a couple of days at a time...so red

that we thought she was getting conjuctivitis but the dr said no

because there was no itching or discharge. It too seems to coincide

with some of her worst joint days. Allergy drops do not help.

>

> She has never been checked for uveitis - her rheumy brought up

the subject last visit, but then dismissed the notion. Do kids

with uveitis have bad vision in the early stages? Am I worrying too

much, or is it a good idea to have them checked to be sure?

>

> Thank you,

>

> (, 16, cvid, spondy, fibro, migraines)

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible " new car " smell?

> Check outnew cars at Autos.

>

[Guest guest]

, When it comes to uveitis everyone is so different. I am a parent facilitator and moderator on both the www.uveitis.org and www.iritis.org sites. I have met a lot of parents with such different stories. Being dilligent in having your childs eyes checked by ophthalmologist with uveitis as a background, or seeing an ocular immunologist. I have heard so many stories where ophthalmologists will see red eyes and dx conjunctivitis or allergies when it is in deed uveitis. My daughter has uveitis in all of the areas of her eye (panuveitis). She has had acute pain in her eyes from anterior (iritis), spasms, to feeling nothing at all. There is no formula for uveitis to follow, it will do what it wants to do. Our children already have a high tolerance for pain, and I don't know about other uveitis children, but

my daughter has a difficult time distinguishing if her vision is off because she doesn't have a good visual history to pull from. In the 5 years of going through this, she has only complained once due to bad sight. Follow your instincts. If her eyes are red, find a GOOD eye guy to look at her through a slit lamp. I have read mostly about anterior uveitis, but it can get any part of the eye, just ask my daughter. Her eye guy at home won't even dilate her to look at the back part of her eye. He just checks her anterior part. If I didn't have Dr. as her main guy I'd be sick! Hope this helps, ' & a 11 jia/uveitisnancy barnes <nancyb315@...> wrote: Recently, my daughter has had a couple of episodes, where one or both eyes are very bloodshot for a couple of days at a time...so red that we thought she was getting conjuctivitis but the dr said no because there was no itching or discharge. It too seems to coincide with some of her worst joint days. Allergy drops do not help.She has never been checked for uveitis - her rheumy brought up the subject last visit, but then dismissed the notion. Do kids with uveitis have bad vision in the early stages? Am I worrying too much, or is it a good idea to have them checked to be sure? Thank you, (,

16, cvid, spondy, fibro, migraines) Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?Check out new cars at Autos.

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out

new cars at Autos.

[Guest guest]

– I agree with getting her eyes checked. When was

first diagnosed, he went every 3 months, and now he is at 6 months. Our ophthalmologist

said that after 7 years clear he can go to once a year. She also said depending

on the meds, he should be checked frequently. I am not sure why your rheumy

would dismiss the idea, it can’t hurt to have them checked, just in case.

Michele ( 20 (!), spondy)

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of nancy barnes

Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 2:01

AM

Subject: RE: eye

inflammation & uveitis question

Recently,

my daughter has had a couple of episodes, where one or both eyes are very

bloodshot for a couple of days at a time...so red that we thought she was

getting conjuctivitis but the dr said no because there was no itching or

discharge. It too seems to coincide with some of her worst joint days. Allergy

drops do not help.

She has never been checked for uveitis - her rheumy brought up the

subject last visit, but then dismissed the notion. Do kids with

uveitis have bad vision in the early stages? Am I worrying too much, or

is it a good idea to have them checked to be sure?

Thank you,

(, 16, cvid, spondy, fibro, migraines)

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible " new car " smell?

Check out new

cars at Autos.

[Guest guest]

Definitely have them checked. has

had jra for over 12 yrs and has dealt with uveitis for all of those. You

always need to check the eyes out. This sounds like a definite case to be

looked at for good measure if nothing else. When it comes to your child it is

never too much worry. Good Luck

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of nancy

barnes

Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 12:01

AM

Subject: RE: eye

inflammation & uveitis question

Recently,

my daughter has had a couple of episodes, where one or both eyes are very

bloodshot for a couple of days at a time...so red that we thought she was

getting conjuctivitis but the dr said no because there was no itching or

discharge. It too seems to coincide with some of her worst joint days. Allergy

drops do not help.

She has never been checked for uveitis - her rheumy brought up the

subject last visit, but then dismissed the notion. Do kids with

uveitis have bad vision in the early stages? Am I worrying too much, or

is it a good idea to have them checked to be sure?

Thank you,

(, 16, cvid, spondy, fibro, migraines)

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible " new car " smell?

Check out new

cars at Autos.

[Guest guest]

Thank you all for the input...I am going to call for an appointment. It is good to know there is first-hand wisdom to turn to here!Michele, also odd about the rheumy dismissing (her own) idea - she and the fellow checked 's eyes at the last visit and commented on difficulty seeing in one of her eyes, then dismissed that as likely due to the lighting or instrument...but just pointed out, it happens it was the eye that gets the most inflammation...could be coincidence, but curious nevertheless.Thank you again. (, 16, cvid, spondy, fibro, migraines)"Tepper, Michele" <MTepper@...> wrote: – I agree with getting her eyes checked. When was first diagnosed, he went every 3 months, and now he is at 6 months. Our ophthalmologist said that after 7 years clear he can go to once a year. She also said depending on the meds, he should be checked frequently. I am not sure why your rheumy would dismiss the idea, it can’t hurt to have them checked, just in case. Michele ( 20 (!),

spondy) From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of nancy barnes Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 2:01 AM Subject: RE: eye inflammation & uveitis question Recently, my daughter has had a couple of episodes, where one or both eyes are very bloodshot for a couple of days at a time...so red that we thought she

was getting conjuctivitis but the dr said no because there was no itching or discharge. It too seems to coincide with some of her worst joint days. Allergy drops do not help. She has never been checked for uveitis - her rheumy brought up the subject last visit, but then dismissed the notion. Do kids with uveitis have bad vision in the early stages? Am I worrying too much, or is it a good idea to have them checked to be sure? Thank you, (, 16, cvid, spondy, fibro, migraines) Ahhh...imagining

that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Autos. Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out

new cars at Autos.

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out

new cars at Autos.

[Guest guest]

,

My daughter also had severe blood shot eyes. It occured in the

beginning of her first flares and when she was in the most pain. She

was unaware that her eyes were bloodshot but she would at times

complain of pain and burning.

She was checked for uveitis regularly and never had any problems.

The bloodshot eyes went away after the first year, with no

explanation as to why she ever developed that symptom in the first

place.

(aundrea 11 systemic jra/gerd)

>

> Recently, my daughter has had a couple of episodes, where one or

both eyes are very bloodshot for a couple of days at a time...so red

that we thought she was getting conjuctivitis but the dr said no

because there was no itching or discharge. It too seems to coincide

with some of her worst joint days. Allergy drops do not help.

>

> She has never been checked for uveitis - her rheumy brought up the

subject last visit, but then dismissed the notion. Do kids with

uveitis have bad vision in the early stages? Am I worrying too much,

or is it a good idea to have them checked to be sure?

>

> Thank you,

>

> (, 16, cvid, spondy, fibro, migraines)

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible " new car " smell?

> Check outnew cars at Autos.

>

[Guest guest]

– Unless the rheumy dilates the eyes and looks at it with a “slit

lamp” they will not see the inflammation. That is why going to the eye dr

is so important. You cannot see anything inflamed without doing that. Glad you

are making the appointment, if only for your peace of mind. Michele (

20, spondy)

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of nancy

barnes

Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 7:42

PM

Subject: RE: eye

inflammation & uveitis question

Thank you

all for the input...I am going to call for an appointment. It is good to

know there is first-hand wisdom to turn to here!

Michele, also odd about the rheumy dismissing (her own) idea - she and the

fellow checked 's eyes at the last visit and commented on difficulty

seeing in one of her eyes, then dismissed that

as likely due to the lighting or instrument...but just pointed out,

it happens it was the eye that gets the most inflammation...could be

coincidence, but curious nevertheless.

Thank you again.

(, 16, cvid, spondy, fibro, migraines)

" Tepper, Michele " <MTepperftportfolios>

wrote:

– I agree with getting her eyes checked. When

was first diagnosed, he went every 3 months, and now he is at 6 months.

Our ophthalmologist said that after 7 years clear he can go to once a year. She

also said depending on the meds, he should be checked frequently. I am not sure

why your rheumy would dismiss the idea, it can’t hurt to have them

checked, just in case. Michele ( 20 (!), spondy)

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of nancy barnes

Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 2:01

AM

Subject: RE: eye

inflammation & uveitis question

Recently, my daughter has had a couple of episodes, where one or both

eyes are very bloodshot for a couple of days at a time...so red that we thought

she was getting conjuctivitis but the dr said no because there was no itching

or discharge. It too seems to coincide with some of her worst joint days.

Allergy drops do not help.

She has never been checked for uveitis - her rheumy brought up the

subject last visit, but then dismissed the notion. Do kids with

uveitis have bad vision in the early stages? Am I worrying too much, or

is it a good idea to have them checked to be sure?

Thank you,

(, 16, cvid, spondy, fibro, migraines)

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible " new car " smell?

Check out new

cars at Autos.

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible " new car " smell?

Check out new

cars at Autos.

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible " new car " smell?

Check out new

cars at Autos.