History, started on 40mg prednisolone beg oct this year after GCA diag. Currently tapered down to 17.5 looking to go to 15 soon maybe, but feeling a bit achy at times, will wait until review next week.
I have a follow up appt next week at the GCA clinic.
But over the last few weeks I get watery, slightly reddish eyes in the morning, which seems to improve as the day goes. No direct eyesight issues other than having to blink often. It also looks like the conjunctiva is slightly inflamed, a bit like mild conjunctivitis?
is this Gca related, or something else???
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Cfmad298601
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Not specifically GCA but autoimmune disorder-related possibly. The effect can be caused by dry eyes - the tears produced aren't the good viscous ones they should be to keep the surface of the eyes healthy. Overnight they tend to get gritty with "sleep" and you produce copious amounts of thin tears in an attempt to rectify the situation.
The desire to blink often is also a sign - every time you blink you spread tear fil over the surface of the eye. When using screens of any sort you ted to forget to blink and that makes things worse.
You can get eye drops/gel that replace tears and make it more comfortable. Often using a thicker, more gel-like version before bed will help.
I think that we are quite prone to minor infections with our immunity suppressed by Pred. Dry eyes are definitely part of the condition and this compounds the problem. I have Theoloz Duo dry eyedrops on prescription, preservative free and the most effective I have tried. Then the usual hygiene precautions for Blepharitis. I am afraid it tends to hang about for ages. Obviously see your GP if at all possible. My Optician was helpful and he put me on to my eye drops.
I have had several issues like yours over the last few years, using artiificial eye drops, for dry eye syndrome, optometrist tell?s me not serious, just a very common problem, but I am interedted in what symptons you had to be diagnosed with GCA, and how exactly did your clinic diagnose GCA,?
I had sudden, severe onset of knee, hip and neck pain in aug 2022. Just put it down to age and menopause symptoms. Then about 6 weeks later had jaw pain on eating, aching onside of head etc…and strangely a numbness in roof of mouth and general fatigue.
After about 2 weeks, and googling I called drs and she called me in same day and took blood tests even though she didn’t thing it was GCA related. The next day I had call from surgery saying my blood tests suggested severe inflammation (see my profile) and I was referred to local hospitals rheumatology dept and put on prednisolone. Had biopsy in Oct, although it was inconclusive they continues me on the steroids. Next week I have my first follow up appt.
My eye doc called it blepharitis. I also have dry eyes. My sister- no PMR/gca gets the same.
I found warm, wet, salt water cloth to the eyes a couple of times a day gives wonderful relief. My sister tried every ointment/eye drops and this is the only thing that works.
I take a quart of clean water, add about 5 sachets of McNeil sinus rinse to it. I then take a clean handkerchief each time, soak it in the water and heat it on a plate in the micro for 30sec. Carefully apply to eyes even allowing the water to get in. Amazing results.
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Dark eyes 
with tears in my eyes
Trapezius trigger point
swollen eyes
