Anyone experiencing sore, swollen eyes?

[LuckyMB78]

Hi everyone, I’ve been diagnosed with seronegative RA and for the last year I’ve been getting red soreness and swelling around my eyes. I’m trying biologics (Cimzia didn’t work, now 10 weeks into Amgevita with no great relief). I’ve been given a few month-long courses of Prednisolone to manage flares and whenever I’m on it the eye problem goes away. When it gets really bad my left eye practically closes up and looks like I’ve been punched! GP has tried antihistamine and antibiotics but neither work. I’ve asked my rheumatology nurse and consultant but they have no suggestions and I don’t see them very often anyway. It seems clear it’s linked to my condition but I’m a bit stuck and unsure what to do, anyone else had this or got any advice? Thanks 🙏🏽

[happyh67]

Hi LuckyMB78,I also have a very slight problem with dry eyes (compared to yours) and it is well known that Sjogren's syndrome is a possibility for people with RA, as it is also an immune disease. It might be worth discussing with your GP/rheumatology dept as eye drops might be all that's needed. If your eyes are getting very dry due to lack of tears you will get an intense irritation, which would then be called with the prednisolone, but would recur once that's stopped. You could buy some over the counter eye drops to try first, or if you have a regular optician they could help. I think it's worth a try anyway.

I hope this helps 🙂

Every blessing,

Hayley

[happyh67 in reply to happyh67]

That should read 'calmed' with the prednisolone! Silly autocorrect!

[LuckyMB78 in reply to happyh67]

Thanks Hayley, I think my problem might be a bit different, my eyes themselves aren’t dry, it’s the area around my eyes that is red and gets very swollen, my left eye gets so bad I look like a boxer after a match! I will look into Sjögren’s syndrome though in case it is related. It’s so nice to get some suggestions, thank you for replying so quickly! 🙏🏽

[oldtimer]

Worth asking an optician for advice. They are often much better at treatment of eye conditions.It's a toss up without a definite diagnosis. Dry eyes which are common with Rheumatoid Arthritis? Hay fever? - pollen levels have been very high this year. I don't know your age, but seborrheic dermatitis can also cause this (I had to go to the hospital with mine it was so bad).

[LuckyMB78 in reply to oldtimer]

Thank you for this advice, I hadn’t thought to ask my optician because it’s the area around my eye rather than the eye itself but you’re right, they probably see all kinds of conditions and may have suggestions. I’ve tried various hay fever treatments from the GP with no effect unfortunately. I hadn’t heard of seborrheic dermatitis, I’m 43 so perhaps I should look into this too. Thanks!

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to oldtimer]

Dermatitis sounds interesting oldtimer - I was thinking that it could be some sort of eczema round Lucky’s eyes. If her eyes water - which sounds weird with dry eyes but that happens and mine do when they get really dry - then that really irritates the skin around my eyes.

[allanah]

They could maybe refer you to opthalmics or you could ask the optician, they are usually very good.

[dippyd09]

It could be Sjögren’s syndrome which sometimes goes hand in hand with RA. Mine was diagnosed by the optician at an eye test. I use eye drops/gels constantly which relieve it.

[Green230461]

RA and eye issues go together. I had similar issues and was sent to hospital. I had uveitis and was given drops dorzolomide which cleared it up. Get yourself checked out eyes need help quickly. Good luck. 🤕

[notsochunky]

After trying wipes, gel and drops my pharmacy recommended plain old vaseline. I use a tiny amount on the red areas really works!

[Hidden in reply to notsochunky]

Snap

[LuckyMB78 in reply to notsochunky]

I will try anything! Did you have swelling as well as the red/soreness? My left eye gets so swollen it looks like I’ve been punched!

[notsochunky in reply to LuckyMB78]

Yes I had sore eyes inside the lids, but I also had red swollen dry skin around the outside. This is where I used the vaseline. It is not suitable for inside the lids.

[Anniebl24]

Go to the optician and they will refer you to an eye hospital ( if necessary) - that is what happened to me. I was given drops.