Good afternoon, I have had GCA since February 2021 and I am delighted that I am now down to 5mg steroid, having followed your fantastic advice on reduction.
I'm aware that with GCA its important to keep healthy eyes and for the last 3 days I have one very bloodshot eye and it feels bruised behind the eye. I have been using gentle drops for 2 days but it'd not making any difference. I'm aware I do get a little anxious about anything that could be due to GCA retuning. Does anyone think this is something to worry about?
Thank you.
Written by
Strider68
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I have had my eye turning bright red since taking steroids. It has happened about three times and I look like Dracula for around a couple of weeks, but then it slowly goes away and I am back to normal.
I tend to get these too and my ophthalmologist suggested using artificial tears to speed the healing. Usually works well. I use a kind with no preservatives.
I had it a few times early days - and because of my GCA history attended the eye dept at local hospital. Same as PMRpro has said, I was told it was nothing to worry about and should go within a couple of weeks. However, if it didn’t to go back for further advice. Didn’t need to, as if cleared up.
Bit surprised it’s appeared at low doses -I was still on 60mg at the time.
Are you sure you haven’t rubbed it or accidentally damaged it recently.
I had this a couple of times this year while reducing on pred - probably on about 6/7mg at the time. Minor injuries said it was subconjunctival haemorrhage as per PMR Pros links and nothing to worry about. Could be the same as why we bruise easily? They advised me to go to optician as well just in case. This was good advice as they found I had pred induced ocular hypertension. Likely a coincidence and unrelated to bloodshot eye but it may be worth getting optician appt and having a pressure check just in case. (I am also VERY shortsighted)
Just to add - everyone on pred should have a baseline occular pressures check and annual checks thereafter as pred can raise the pressure in some patients and it CAN occasionally turn into glaucoma if not treated early with drops.
I had quite a few subconjunctival haemorrhages at about 8-12mg, no apparent reason and no treatment needed (went to optician for checks). They all cleared up within a couple of weeks.
Separately, as I am on pred and also have a family history of glaucoma, I have six-monthly occular pressure checks.
I have had these over several years, with no apparent problems. I have only had one since starting on Preds last November. I really think I would have had more if the Pred was to blame.
I get bloodshot eyes a LOT. I even get the white of my eye covered with solid bright red blood occasionally. It goes away but is not pleasant. My doctor said nothing to worry about. I have to use dry eye drops daily.
If you are on steroids it can happen - my eye was so bad that blood was running down my cheek - normally means I had caught a draught in eye or sudden spike in blood pressure from salt or coffee or low vitamin C which the eyes need.
Also often a towel can catch you without you realising when drying your face - watch out for hairdryers and hair spray which dry out eyes - vitamin C helps as it is often low C that causes the eye to be so prone to bleeds !
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Eye test sorted
Eye pain 
Blood shot eye???
