Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Light Sensitivity?

Hi all,
I suffered from my first ever iritis flare just over a year ago now. According to my current eye specialist the inflammation has now cleared. Since the iritis flare, I now suffer from Sjogren’s & have my lower tear ducts plugged, now UV & bright light sensitive within my right eye. I have to constantly wear tinted glasses indoors & sunglasses outdoors, due to eye discomfort within bright light conditions, including watching TV etc.
Does anyone else suffer from light sensitivity issues? Any advice? Could my light sensitivity be related to my AS?
Many thanks.
George.

I have had iritis three times over the last several years. Although I have not had the complications that you listed, I am much more light sensitive now then before. I have to wear sunglasses on sunny days where I never did before. However, I do not have to wear them indoors or when watching TV, so mine is much less severe then yours. Good Luck!!

Hi George,
I'm sorry to hear about your light sensitivity. Has it gotten any better in the past year, or has it stayed the same? Are you treating your eyes daily for dryness, such as using preservative free moisturizing eye drops, and putting warm compresses on your eyes? What is your typical diet like?
Sorry if that is too many questions!
My eyes are very sensitive to light and it makes me so tired. But, I don't have that painful sensitivity that I do when having an iritis flare up. I think that light sensitivity is part of inflammation, which is part of AS, and light sensitivity and Sjogren's are linked, too. When I eat starchy food, my eyes gradually get more tired, more sensitive and achey.
Jan

Hey - i'll have to second Jan's comment, my eye issues got better when I cut back on the starches. I've been diagnosed with secondary sjogren's by my symptoms- light sensitive, achey, dry, tired; and it all came about when the arthritis started, so I definitely think its connected. My first doctor gave me a test for depression because I told him I felt better when the sun went down - but i'm guessing it was the eye inflammation - it really wears you out.
mary cay

Phillip,
Thanks for taking the time to reply to my post & info provided.
George.

Jan,
Thanks for your reply.
Regarding your questions. I'm now using Hyabak, pres & add free. I can now get it on prescription, fantastic. It’s the best no more tear product I've ever used. Now going 1 hr between applications.
Eye pain since initial iritis flare, about the same, but inflammation seems to be allot less.
I don't think it's diet related in my case. Have tried eradication diets in the past for my AS & made no difference.
Best wishes.
George.

Mary,
Yes, I agree, eye pain is very tiring to deal with.
My initial iritis flare, in my opinion was caused by a days fishing on a bright sunny day. The reflection of the sun on the lake, causing my eye prob. Never been the same since. So called professionals have no answers.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
George.

George, I sure hope this hasn't stopped you from fishing!! Come to think of it, my last bout of Iritis was during a fishing trip. I wonder if there is a conection. But I get enough enjoyment out of fishing that I will never stop!

I've only had acute Iritis once, when I was first diagnosed with AS about 10 years ago. However, I've had some severe photosensitivity during the last couple years to the point where looking at a white sidewalk in the daylight was absolutely searing on my eyes. It's resolved for the most part along with my AS symptoms through antibiotic treatment and now only happens very occasionally to me. Here's a link to an interesting take on eye inflamation and photosensitivy: Inflamation, vision and bacteria

I have been experiencing similar problems. At first I thought it was just from eye strain due to my job requiring my to stare at a computer screen for hours on end. But, after I quit that job and laid off the coputer moniter for a while the symptoms not only persisted but worsened.

For me it started as an "eye wobble". My right eye only, would have trouble focusing, or locking onto the target. Instead it would wiggle around what I was trying to look at. This was intermitten and infrequent at first, but gradually increased in occurance over the course of months. It has reached the point where my eye will wobble so much that it makes me dizzy and nautious somtimes. Light seems more harsh than usual as well.

I went to an opthomologist and was told that I had signs of past inflamation in the eye. He gave me restasis, some eye dialator drops, and eye stereroids. I haven't taken them yet, only the restasis, and it seemed to help aleviate the symptoms, temporarily at least. My opthomologist, my rhuemy, and my gut are all telling me it is related to the AS.

Since then I have recently switched from sulfasalizine to MTX, and after MTX proved to be ineffective, I am switching again to enbrel. Waiting with fingers crossed that the enbrel takes care of these nagging symptoms.