Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
I know that the Sjogren's syndrome goes along with the RA and I have been having a lot of trouble with my eyes. They are very red and irritated and the tear ducts are particularly sore. I went to the eye Dr. and he basically said "yep, you have eye problems due to the RA." The only thing he really suggested was to use moisturizing eye drops. The drops help for a few minutes but they are by no means making much of a difference. Not only do my eyes look terrible, they are so irritated that at times it is interfering with my vision. Has anyone had any luck with any kind of treatment for these eye issues?
And, honestly, there is not really a way to be 100% sure your eye issues are from RA.
Were you prescribed restasis? Did you get a test on your tears?
You should have gotten a diagnosis - and maybe some steroid/antibiotic drops plus restasis possibly.
I was given a combo antibiotic/steroid (zylet) to start with - drops. Used in a decreasing pattern for about 5 or 6 days.
And, sochlor (prescription salt water basically - burns but is exactly like your tears)...use as needed.
FreshKote - use as needed. It's slimy but doesn't sting at all and definitely helps keep eyes from drying so fast.
Restasis 2x day.
Went back after 30 days, reexamined.
At that point, eyes were still dry. Doctor made sure I knew to wear glasses inside and out - to keep wind off eyes.
Added small daily dose of lotemax - steroid since inflammation was still a problem.
And I got Bepreve for allergies.
I hope you will revisit a different doctor. You can't mess around with eyes! I'm appalled at the care you received!
Even when I went to the rheumy for the first time (when he adamantly said it was OA), I showed him my eyes. Since then I have read that eye issues are a symptom of an autoimmune disease. Since I have been on MTX, the folds at the outside corners of my eyes are greatly diminished and at times are gone completely. During my last visit I talked with my doc about it because I was having eye issues at the time, and he said Sjogrens, but I don't really have the other dryness symptoms, so I am not convinced.
When I start to flare, one of the first places I notice it is in my eyes -- red, dry, gritty... basically, mildly miserable. My only treatment is OTC eye drops -- Refresh or Systane Balance. I am probably also going to order some 7eye sunglasses, which have shields for wind (since I mountain bike).
My nose does the same thing. I was on an oral medication but it got so the swings from dry to wet were to wide. I"m not on a different one -- evoxac. It is much better. I use the eye drops and gels, and saline solution for my nose. My niece, an optometrist, thinks I should be on Restasis, but I had to add one more prescription to my long list.
A lot of what you do will be trial and error until you find the right stuff for you. The Sjogren's foundation website is a good one. They do make lozenges to help with dry mouth, although lemon drops are supposed to help.