Blepharitis

[Franbie]

Does anyone else get blepharitis, problems with swollen, puffy & sore eyes & could it be anything to do with RA.

[Hidden]

Yes I do! I'd never heard of it before, but last time I saw my optician he said I had 'eye dandruff' and told me to use Blephasol lotion. I suffer from seborrheic dermatitis and was to.d it was linked to that. I've had that a lot longer than I've had RA though so I don't know if there is a connection.

X

[Franbie in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the reply. I also use blephasol lotion & do the warming the eyelid then massaging them. I have heard that brolene eye drops works so I have ordered some of them. I will let you know if they work. Franbie.x

[Hidden in reply to Franbie]

Warming the eyelid? I haven't come across that? X

[Franbie in reply to Hidden]

It does help the doctor gave me a print out with the instructions on it but basically you warm a flannel with fairly hot water (make sure you test the heat somewhere else first) press on your eyes when it feels like it's cooling turn or rewarm with hot water & press again. You get used how warm you want it after a while After doing this put your index finger at the corner of your eye resting gently on the lid then swipe from the corner to the outside of your eye massaging the lid as you go. I do this morning & evening & if I get a chance lunch time. I have tried the eyebags & baby shampoo but I find the above much better than anything else. Someone also suggested trying cooled tea bags I haven't tried this yet. Franbie x

[Hidden in reply to Franbie]

Ooh, thanks I'll try that! X

[francherry]

Yes, me too. I have it too and it was only diagnosed after developing RA. I massage my eyelids in the morning and evening. I use round cotton pads rather than a flannel. I also use cotton wool buds dipped in warm water to clean the rim of each eyelid (top and lower eyelid on each eye). I also use one end for each lid so get through a lot of cotton wool buds!! Then I put one drop of Optive eye drops in each eye. I find if I don't do this routine then my eyesight gets blurry after a few days. I've also been told to avoid eye make-up but feels strange not wearing mascara!

[oldtimer]

After a diagnosis of blepharitis at the emergency eye clinic some years ago (my eyes was so swollen i couldn't see) I have regularly used baby shampoo to wash my eyelids every day morning and night. This seems to keep it under control.

I also have dry eyes and use the hypromellose and viscotears as well.

[jeanabelle]

I don't know if I have the same as you.....my optician told me I had rheumatoid in my eyes. It was about 5 months after I had been diagnosed. She sold me a spray that I spray onto my eyelids. It cost about £13 but I didn't care so long as it gave me ease. I have sore, itchy eyes and sometimes a discharge and sore eyeballs. Is that the same? My rheumy never mentions it but then neither do I! Also I find I must wear sunglasses when I go out side....I am just after hanging cloths on the line and I had to put my sunglasses on to do it. It's quite sunny here in Ireland (for a change), I just can't go out in sunlight with out protection. My vision is quite good for my age (63, don't tell anyone) and I only wear glasses for reading. Any ideas???? XXXX

[knobblyknees in reply to jeanabelle]

You should mention this to your rheumy as it is connected with RA

[Craw]

I too have this and have suffered from it for 5 years just as I was told I had RA.

I was told there is a link to this and RA. I also suffered from eye ulcers which is really painfull and the sunlight hurts yours eyes so you have to wear sunglasses.

I use cotton wool pads with baby shampoo in previously boiled water left to cool, I use this morning and night and it makes a big difference.

Mary x

[Franbie]

Thanks so much for all the replies, there are good tips in them which is the great thing about this site it's nice that you get so much help. I have wondered about a link to RA & it looks like it could be correct. I really need to see the doctor with my shoulder so will have a word with him about this & let you know what he says. One other tip I heard this morning was to put 2 used tea bags in the fridge to cool & then place them over your eyes for about 5 to 10 minutes, will give this a try later. Franbie x

[Hidden]

I was told by my optician to make a mixture up of boiled water with 1/10th baby shampoo. Put a nice warm, clean flannel on your eyes for a minute or two and then use a piece of cotton wool for each eye, wipe along the ridge of the eye with this solution - from inside to outer eye along where your tear glands are and try and clean all the ducts out of dry skin and gunk.

He told me this is the best way to sort out blepheritis and gave me a leaflet on this condition too. It can go with secondary Sjogrens which is an autoimmune condition that also causes dryness of the eyes and mouth and other parts too. I was told I have the dry eyes and that it probably related to RA. Tilda

[Franbie in reply to Hidden]

Hi Tilda. Thanks for that, it will be useful to anyone, (including me) with blepharitis. When everything started up with me I had a swollen jaw, terrible pain & a dry mouth. They did consider Sjorgrens but my bloods were negative. They were going to do a lip biopsy but they never did (I was a bit of a coward & didn't; push it though). I then had my saliver gland out as they thought this was the problem. After this op I ended up back in hospital through A&E three times with infections in my jaw, they put me on intravenous antibiotics. I know my white cell count was high & I'm not sure but I think my ESR was high then. I now wonder whether it was the start of RA. Franbie x

[Franbie in reply to Franbie]

ps. Tried the tea bags cooled in the fridge last night. They are very soothing so I am going to do this again tonight.

[knobblyknees]

I have dry eye for a while but lately my eyesight became blurry and as I wasnt due to see the rheumy till July, I went to the optition. He gave me the instructiion to boil some water and let it cool enough so it was hot but not burning, put a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in it and with cloth/cotton balls to soak closed eyes with warm-as-you-can solution, do this a few times then rinse away with clean water. do this either morning and night for a few days or just once a day for a bit longer and then continue every 3 or 4 days however you see fit. I have to say the warmth is very soothing on its own.

[Franbie in reply to knobblyknees]

Thanks for your reply. That sounds good. I remember when I was young ( a long time ago) my mom used to bathe my eyes with a bicarb solution because I used to get conjunctive itis a quite often. I will definitely give it a try. Franbie

[lingooz]

Hi I use bicarb it's very soothing, is RA rheumatoid arthritis? I don't have thus, that I know of? (my father had it very badly but told not hereditary? ) I have spondylitis though

[Hidden]

Are your eyes all gritty feeling, with a not very good tear film on them? If so you probably have Sjogren's Syndrome, which is associated with rheumatoid disease. It affects the tear supply to your eyes and you usually have a dry mouth too. You could try some artificial tears from the Chemists for a while - they don't cost much if you just have the ones in bottles, not the spray ones for closed eyes. I've had blepharitis and swollen, puffy eyes for years and it's a nuisance! I've got other sight problems and attend the Eye Hospital in London, and they diagnosed Sjogren's Syndrome.