Eye pressure hypertension and Predisone

[Helloshelly]

Hello, I am new to the site and wondered if anyone has experienced issues with eye pressure hypertension while using Predisone for RA. I use Travason drops and gel for my dry eyes but still am having issues with my eyes . I also am taking Metrotexate, folic acid. I appreciate any feedback offered. Thank you.

[Mamadukes]

Sorry , I don't have that, but I do have nodular scleritis. Eye pain and redness. It's very uncomfortable. The methotrexate is supposed to help, which it does , but still have breakthrough pain. Hope you get some answers. Feel better!

[Helloshelly in reply to Mamadukes]

Thank you for your time and sharing! I appreciate it very much. I wish you well too.

[Ambertabbycat]

Hi Helloshelly, I was on methotrexate for almost 8 years and am now taking Enbrel. I also take a low dosage of prednisone. I've been having dry eye syndrome for years now and have used many different types of eye drops. My eyes are also very red, but I have not any eye pressure. I'm currently using two different types of drops, Opcon-A (helps with the redness) and Retaine MGD for the dryness. Occasionally my eyes still get pretty bad and it is so difficult not to scratch them all the time.

I do hope you can find something that will work for you, soon. Sometimes the side effects from the meds are quite difficult to deal with. Is the Methotrexate helping with your RA?

Sorry I can't be more helpful. Please take care. Best wishes for all good days!

Karen

[Helloshelly in reply to Ambertabbycat]

Thanks for reply and info, I appreciate your time very much. I use GenTeal night gel for my dry eyes. It helps but will try the Obcon-A as the redness is distracting when around others. My doc is still working on my dosage with Methrotexate but it does seem to be helping for a couple of days after I take it. I am grateful for the couple of days so going with the process. She mentioned Enbrel to me but really would like to follow the steps completely and give my body the opportunity. Faith & Courage to you too!

[Nitrobunny]

Hello!

I have not personally experienced increased eye pressure (I have been on a fairly high dose for some time and varying doses since 2004) however my mother who also has autoimmune issues, is almost completely blind from her long term use of prednisone. She initially had high pressure readings as far back as 2009 and wasn't exactly compliant when the doctor was first treating her for it.

[Helloshelly in reply to Nitrobunny]

Thank you for your response. Yes, this is my concern too. I developed cataracts within a my annual eye appointment and had one of of my eyes undergo surgery. Now, I use Travastan in the cataract eye only but have super dry eyes too. I use GenTeal night gel in both eyes. My cataract eye is red every morning and I seem to have a dark area under the same eye. Guess I need to spend the money to see the doc and have a professional opinion as blindness is not an option that I wish to add to my challenges too. Thanks again for sharing.

[Nitrobunny in reply to Helloshelly]

You're most welcome. My mother also has the dark area under both eyes but more noticable on her bad eye as she calls it. It's been really hard on her as she is/was an avid reader and a published writer. In the beginning when the doctors were warning her that she was eventually going to lose her eyesight, she felt no pain and no real symptoms and as such was not as compliant as she could have or should have been. She definitely regrets it now and constantly admonishes me to be compliant if I find myself in a similar situation. My eye doctors watch me like a hawk for many reasons and say I'm doing great and show no sign of the eye disease my mother has from the prednisone. I hope and pray that remains the case. It is recommended that a person using prednisone in either high doses and/or long term, see an opthamologist at least once a year. My mother's biggest mistake was not religiously using the drops that could have extended or saved her vision. It's not as if you wake up in complete darkness one day. She described it as looking through grey water. Your brain tries to make sense of what you cannot see and it's mentally exhausting.

I wish you the very best - I hope you see an eye doctor soon and can be reassured all is well.

[Helloshelly in reply to Nitrobunny]

I too am a reader and a writer. I was going annually but it has been 3 years now since my cataract surgery. For some reason, I thought The eye doc expense was less of a priority until I started 20mg of Predisone again. Thank you for sharing your mothers story.