Hi,
I went to my GP the other day as my right eye was sore. She put some stain in it and said my eye was dry and the other one was too. Put on drops to put in through the day and a greasy cream to put in at night. I asked how long I had to do this she said for life.I have RA. Anyone else had this problem.
Patsy 57
Hi patsy I've same problem got RA and OA and was given eye drops for mine and has made a dirrerence
Thank you only used mess 5 days and has helped.
I was told before I was diagnosed that I had dry eyes when I first started using contact lenses, it was put down then to my age. At my last eye check I was told that they are very dry and was told to use eye drops everyday and every morning to put a warm damp flannel over my eyes for five minutes to stimulate my tear glands .
My RA nurse told me that my drugs, methotrexate and Enbrel will cause dry eyes and also RA itself does. Also been told that I've got the start of a cataract in my good eye. Not a happy bunny at all, needless to say that I've stopped using contact lenses . I bought the first few lots of eye drops but at over £11 a go I've now got them on prescription. xx
I have the same problem dry eyes and dry mouth spray for mouth and drops for eyes
Hello Patsy. I have had RA for about eight years. In addition I have Sjogren's syndrome which the doctor says causes my dry eyes. It is a terrible affliction as you know.I have to use drops constantly. Air conditioning and fans don't help. I find using a hearing pad sometimes helps to sooth the symptoms. Take care.
Cas xx 🌸
Hi Patsy, I was diagnosed almost 40 years ago with Sjögren's syndrome ie dry eyes and have lived with it far more successfully than with the RA!
I suggest you ask for a referral to ophthalmology to have it properly diagnosed. Do you also have a dry mouth? I don't luckily. I used to have an annual check up with the ophthalmologist but they don't seem to bother with that any more. I use eye drops during the day but not at night.
Hi Patsy,
I've got Sojourns as some of the others who have replied. I use eye drops constantly and you do get used to it, I have Celluvisc 1% and Eye Lube + a cream Vitapos for at night which sounds like the one you have. This is not to scare you, my dry eyes are at the far end of the scale - I've had a couple of RA flare ups affecting my eyes and the dry eyes contributed to those, I ended up with 4 days in hospital both times. The first time I should have gone in to the Eye Unit much earlier and have scarring on my left eye which means my vision is not good enough to read with. Both eyes together are fine, but I will never take a chance again. After the second flare in Jan when I did go fairly soon after the symptoms started, I had a small procedure in Feb to seal my tear ducts and keep the artificial tears in the eye for longer. My last check up earlier this month was positive and just another routine one in 6 months. Good Luck with it all and the RA
Best Wishes
Michele
Many thanks not sure where I am on the scale too early to tell.
hello - unfortunately a lot of us suffer that additional problem. Very unpleasant and not understood by others who do not have RD. I just use the gel and night time greasy stuff. A case of grin & bear it?
I have dry eyes too. I know hydrochloroquin can damage eyes and you need regular checks. My optician says cateracts have began to appear and I know its since I been on this drug.
Reading about cataracts I do wonder if they can be caused by the drugs that we take. Since I started Enbrel I was asked if I would fill in a 6 month diary which I have to report any illnesses etc, this is then sent to Manchester university. Seems to me that that are tracking things due to anti tnfs, beings that they are still a relatively new drug. i've just sent my last one off ( you do it for three years) and I noticed that you have to put down if you've been told you've got cataracts. I have told my specalist nurse that I've been told I've got the start of one, but she said it's nothing to do with RA, this was though before I filled in my diary.
I sometimes think anything else you want to send my way. I think my hobbies now include medication taker. Thanks for your reply.
Yep that sums it up! My whole life seems to be about drugs. I know too much about drugs I had never heard off before I got ill in 2011. Also having to research things cos I don't always trust the docs . my drugs include cancer drugs along with RA drugs and they sometimes clash so I am constantly checking things. I get so tired of it all sometimes.
Thank you I do like this site. Lots of good advice.
Yes I have same. Psoriatic arthritis causes this. They get so stuck the pain is so awful when I try to open them. Drops during the day and drops on my night cabinet 😩
Jen x
I have to back to the docs in another week so she check on them and decide if I need a referral to ophthalmology.
I had a referral to ophthalmology. I had severe dry eyes & Bletheritis. I scrub my eyes with the tips of my fingers with a gentle eyewash at least twenty times this helps the Bletheritis. It his horrible. I watched how to do it on You Tube it helps a lot.
Wishing you clear eyes
Jen xx
Dry eyes
Dry eyes 
Itchy tear ducts- not dry eye
Hyco San Extra for dry eyes
