(Reiter's) Iritis - Prevention / Treatment ?

[Guest guest]

Greetings,

I'm a newcomer to the group -- glad to find you!

I have had Reiter's Syndrome (RS) for over seven years (ages 29-37). It is

currently

showing up mainly as chronic iritis (about once a year), each round of which

goes on for a

couple of months (impacts my vision and work flow). Steroid drops are currently

starting

to cause ptosis (drooping eyelid) and the very beginnings of a cataract. I also

tend to get

depressed and gain weight when I'm on steroids. I'm looking for better ways to:

(a) decrease or prevent RS symptoms;

( treat iritis without as many steroid side effects (ptosis, cataract, tissue

thinning, etc.)

Any helpful advice regarding prevention and treatment would be greatly

appreciated!

Thank you,

-Hans.

Extra Notes:

I got classic Reiter's Syndrome symptoms in India in 1999 after getting amoebic

dysentery:

conjunctivitis, urethritis, reactive arthritis (left knee and right heel), and

depression. I

tested positive for the HLA-B27.

Since then, I have gotten chronic iritis every 6 to 18 months (often accompanied

by

depression symptoms). My doctor has used mainly atropine (dilation), predforte

steroid

drops (anti-inflammitory), and oral NSAIDs like Aleve. However, the symptoms

were once

quite severe and required an intramuscular steroid injection which suppressed

inflammation but caused a biochemical psychological side effect, making me

extremely

agitated and depressed.

If the current pattern continues, and the current medicines continue to be used,

I fear that

I will have droopy eyelids, cataracts, and other tissue degeneration all too

soon. Seeking

alternatives...