Red eye

[Pusph]

Hi, I keep getting a red bloodshot eye. It's always the same eye and in the same place on the eye. Is this anything to do with PMR or a side effect of the Prednisolone and does anyone else get this please. I'm trying to get an appointment at the MEC clinic at my opticians, but would like to know if this is just another thing we're now prone to! Thanks.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

I did early days on Pred -GP got in a bit of panic (for obvious reasons if you know my story) and referred me to Eye Clinic.

Ophthalmologist not worried, just said quite normal for higher doses of Pred -and should go within a week or so -if not, come back.

It did go, but had it another couple of times - due to tiny capillaries in eyes reacting same as other blood vessels and why we bruise so easily. You may have rubbed eye and not realised it.

But best getting it checked just in case it’s something more serious.,

[Pusph in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for quick reply. I'm on 9mg at the mo, do not high I suppose, but will go to MEC clinic anyway. Thanks.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Pusph]

Good idea.. and please let us know outcome…

[singingloud]

I’ve had several times a bleed in my right eye over the past four years. I’m sure it has something to do with the prednisone.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to singingloud]

This was posted 10 years ago-😉

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Pusph in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks, seems to be a thing then. Will still go to MEC clinic anyway I think. I normally have low blood pressure but will get that checked too!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Pusph]

Certainly were for me early days, but on silly doses for GCA… but no issue at lower dose, and none since being off Pred, apart from last year when I poked myself in the eye with the end of my specs arm! Don’t ask!

Self inflicted, couldn’t blame anyone or anything but myself… 🤦🏻‍♀️

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It will be a delicate capillary on the surface of the eye that keeps breaking, Most likely due to the pred, It is called a subconjunctival haemorrhage

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

My husband got them regularly - he wasn't on pred, just warfarin. I'm on pred and an anticoagulant and I haven't had one in over 10 years!!

[Pusph in reply to PMRpro]

Sorry, didn't understand the last bit, you haven't had one in over 10years should that be?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pusph]

Oh yes - must try harder, haveN'T had one! Smacked hand ...

[Pusph in reply to PMRpro]

Looking at Dorset Lady's link it does seem to be a thing with pred, but I shall go to MEC clinic anyway, although I only had a thorough eye test a couple of months ago, but completely forgot to mention the at times more frequent red eye problem. Will get my blood pressure checked again too although I'm normally on the low side of normal. Thanks for the reply.

[OldPenny]

For your info, red eye was common for me in my first year of taking pred. My eye often felt bruised in its socket. I took it to be a variation on being easily bruised elsewhere on my body. In the last year, taking less than 10mg, it's not been a problem. Other things have! 😵‍💫

Keep taking the tablets. OP

[Daffodilia]

Are you rubbing cos they are dry? Maybe try Thealoz Duo eye drops?

[musicality]

Hi there, I recently had a very red eye and was concerned. My husband has had one and it was maybe caused by being on blood thinning medication, which we are both taking at present, along with anti-coagulants. I am also on long-term Pred which he isn't, so could be either med causing it for me. My husband was reassured that everything was ok, provided that the redness didn't also cover the iris and pupil. In this case, you must report to your GP or A & E to see an Opthalmologist.

[Gimme]

If you get any pain or blurring in the red eye, I would advise getting it looked at directly. Besides GCA which we all worry about getting, there is also the possibility of uveitis. As you are already on prednisolone, I would have expected uveitis to be less likely, but I think it wise to have that excluded as a possibility if you are showing other signs. I mention that because you say that the redness is always in the same place.

[Karenjaninaz]

I get red eye, sometimes if I’ve strained in anyway meaning coughing or bearing down. Sometimes I can be a little bit sore when that happens. I am also on anticoagulants a.k.a. blood thinners; it hasn’t happened with that lately.

[potterylady]

My right eye is almost always red with broken blood vessels. Before I was diagnosed, it was literally full of bright red solid blood many times over the past 3-4 years. You're not alone.

[Pusph]

That's a bit reassuring - still going to get MEC clinic check though. Thank you.

[autumnlass]

I honestly think that’s the wisest thing go do, I has redshot eye for days thinking it as shampoos or hay fever - so I went to excellent eye clinic where I live and the eye was treated successfully. 😌

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to autumnlass]

There is no treatment for subconjunctival haemorrhage, it is just a bruise with nowhere to go. It is a good idea to get familiar with what it looks like - conjunctivis looks very different.

[autumnlass in reply to PMRpro]

It started as a subconjunctival haemorrhage but the intraocular pressure was 64! I was given IOP drops and tablets… but it was the beginning of a long story! Ultimately it ended up with a dislocated lens, glaucoma and a vitrectomy - from which I’m now recovering!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to autumnlass]

Had the pressures not been monitored after starting pred? That's really is a tad elevated!!!

[autumnlass in reply to PMRpro]

They were … on one occasion the optometrist said she couldn’t see the optic nerve…😕but the pressures were normal .. it was in January ‘22 that the eye problem kicked in. The 64 IOP I was told was incorrect - the tonometer was faulty.. the next tonometer recorded 34! Still high! It was the IOL beginning to dislocate. I wish I had had the money to have it replaced privately. £12k at Moorfields! Fast forward to September 23.. 14 weeks post vitrectomy. However have advanced glaucoma which unfortunately goes hand in glove with Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome. 1% of the U.K. have this; 11% in Iceland. Apparently it’s due to the Vikings - according to my consultant - somewhere along the way - I have Viking heritage! 🤣

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to autumnlass]

A lot of things are down to the Vikings ….

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

And they got all sorts of places!!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Very tenacious lot! ….

[autumnlass in reply to DorsetLady]

They did get all over the place. Two of the consultants here are Greek and told me it’s very prevalent in Greece as well! The Vikings certainly left a BIG footprint.. forever and a day it seems!