I got diagnosed with an inflammatory eye disease in 2000 called Fuchs Heterochromic Iridocyclitis. It usually just affects one eye, alters the eye colour, can cause cataract and also glaucoma. I've had the lot!
It wasn't till about 3 years ago that I developed arthritis but I often wonder if there's a link, though there's no absolute theory for the cause of Fuchs. I've an underactive thyroid as well, diagnosed also around 2000.
I just had my latest eye appointment this week and the consultant rushed through a request for another operation to have a tube implant (yuk!) which will be on June 11. Please think of me!
How much do you think the specialists take note of the other diseases we have when treating the one they are responsible for?
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whitedog
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I think they only take note of what meds. you are taking now and what meds. you have taken in the past (especially when the problem is relative to your eyes).
I've had laser treatment for glaucoma in both eyes and now have a cataract starting in my left eye.
Glaucoma is a family thing so cant blame it on the RA but do wonder if the meds. have had some influence.
I suppose the various other specialists are really only interested in their own subjects as that is what they specialise in and that is what they know.
I have now got used to asking if any medication I am prescribed will sit ok with the meds. I take for RA. (My GP has smiled when I have asked this - but as far as I am concerned it's better to be safe than sorry).
Hi, good luck with the op, I think eye surgery is fascinating! I know that ra and glaucoma (a raised intraocular pressure)tend to run in families. I have reccurrent iritis ( inflammation of the iris) and episcleritis (inflammation of the lining of the white part of the eye) and these prompted my ophthalmologist to send me to Rheumy as it can be linked with underying RA. My dad also suffered the same eye problems and severe ra and as the inflamatin from the iris traps in the "angle" of the eye where the fluid drains it blocks and causes glaucoma(high pressure) so I also get regular check ups and had a flare last week. I am on predesol drops at the moment.Don't know bout Fuchs but with it being in the same sort of inflammatory groups u would imagine there would be a similar assossiat
ion!!? Would make a good researcch study lol, don't know if one done. So good luck, remember to lie still hee hee ( ) Axx
Cheers Allanah - I used to go on an iritis forum actually - I'd forgotten about it until now!
The Fuchs disease apparently complicates the glaucoma treatment as it kind of plays devil's advocate, being such an inflammatory disease. I had a trabeculectomy but it failed eventually and also had laser so this op is for a tube. I was hoping I was done with the eye operations and am not sure what more can be done after this one. I don't have a lot of sight left in the eye it affects.
I find it interesting - until I go Googling and come across images of the surgery that make me wish I hadn't!
My rheumy doc did say last year that their research was now focused on treating the body as a whole, rather than just looking at the RA, which makes perfect sense to me.
Yes, that makes perfect sense! They should have a unit in hospitals for auto immune diseases and get all the specialists together once a week!!! They should call it the Judi Whitedog Centre for auto immune maybe lupus disease! Rofl !! Axx
I have just been diagnosed with RA and am waiting to be referred UCHL as my local hospital is terrible (I went there after being diagnosed with Sjogren's which has turned out to actually be RA). I also have high eye pressures and had no idea that it could be related to the RA. My opthalmologists gave no hint that it could be connected and they have since dropped me from the list saying that because the visual fields haven't deteriorated (yet!) I don't need to go! Absolutely disgusted - again it's my local hospital. I could write a book about that place!
As I had not idea these eye problems were related to RA I will ask my new rheumy about seeing someone at UCHL.
Good luck Whitedog with your operation on 11th. You have been through so much. Hope it all goes well for you. x
In the early days of being diagnosed with Fuchs I think I was just given one drop to put in regularly. It may have been Timolol, not sure now. And I think the docs described me as having ocular hypertension but I'd not had any optic nerve damage at that point.
However, at the time, the LGI eye clinic in Leeds was being merged with St James, where I was being treated and, as a result, it got pretty chaotic with huge backlogs of patients not getting seen.
My supposed 6 month check up never came. It got to over a year and when I rang up I just got impatient sighs from the nurses who told me about the backlogs and that there was nothing they could do even though I told them my vision was deteriorating. When I finally got seen, the doctor looked shocked at the state of my eye and rushed through a request for both cataract and glaucoma surgery.
On the day of the surgery I met, for the first time, the glaucoma specialist who was going to do the operation and who is now my consultant and he said because of all the inflammation, he'd just get rid of the cataract that day and see what was going on once it was done. The next day after the op, I removed the eye cover expecting to have clearer vision and I had this horrible spiders web obliterating my vision. When I went back in for my follow up appointment, the consultant told me, I did now have glaucoma. Whether it could have been prevented without all the delays I don't know because even with all the treatment I've since had, the Fuchs is detemined to play havoc and I do think I'll lose the sight in that eye eventually.
I'm just so thankful that the disease only affects my right eye!
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Another 2 sleep nights
Another day another infection 
Biologic not working after a 2 week break
Where will I be in another ten years?
