Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group High occular pressure???

I have been following root2's iritis saga (I hope you are feeling better - the needle sounds nasty ). I noticed that several posts mentioned the importance of monitoring occular pressure durig an iritis flare. I know that steroids - both oral and drops - can increase occular pressure - so it makes sense to be extra careful during a flare.

My question ... can simply having AS (w/out iritis) lead to increased occular pressure? I was diagnosed with AS last spring. A few weeks later I was told that I had high occular pressure (glaucoma suspect). I had been on very high doses of steroids before AS diagnosis. Pressure has been checked twice since, and it remains high. My opthmologist does not think the two are connected as my pressure should have/would have dropped after withdrawing the steroids (it did not). He is monitoring my pressure and my vision, but does not seem too concerned. Should he be ... Should I be?????

Hiya,

As I understand it, inflammation at the front of the eye can affect the drains for the fluid in the eyeball not to flow properly, and pressure to increase.

hope that helps

david

Hi Stormy,

I have no answer to your question and this is the first time I've heard of this happening to an ASer in the absence of iritis. Glaucoma (in my limited knowledge) can show up in people who are not (or have never been) on steroids and who don't have AS, so I suppose it is possible? there is no connection.

Since you mention you're being monitored on a regular basis I would try not to worry about it too much. If it goes higher then hopefully your doctor will be able to provide a treatment to help keep it under control. I'd just be aware of how significant a priority these appointments are to ensuring you head off any further increase, and to catch it at the earliest moment.

My best wishes to you that things will improve.
Please let us know how it goes.

Hiya,

I had a chat with the optho today about the keratitis and eye pressures he says that the eyes etc can be effected in many ways with AS and it's sister diseases and not just uveitis/iritis. So stay with the optho on this and Mig is excellent help as well.

David

Hi Stormy,

I haven't had iritis, been on long term or high steroid doses, but I also have high Occular B.P. It first showed up twelve years ago. That was atleast thirteen years after my A.S. symptoms became unbearable. So far I don't have any vision loss, they just monitor me by checking the pressure and a yearly field of vision test. My doc has said he doesn't want to treat the "high pressure" unless it starts to cause a problem. Apparently, the meds become less effective over time, so he says just watch and wait.

Nice to meet you.

Kirst

Thanks for the replies. There are so many wierd things associated with AS. It really helps to pick everyone's brains!

I wasn't too worried about this initially. Unfortunately I went to a neurologist (who wasn't exactly a candidate for Dr Of The Year) about a different problem, and he went ballistic. "Why aren't you on drops? Doesn't your Opthomologist know what he is doing??" Needless to say the optho wasn't too impressed with Dr Of The Year either.

My optho has me on 6 month rechecks for pressure and vision. He told me the same thing about the drops becoming less effective over time.

Have a great weekend!