Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Diagnose me please -- eye trouble....

No, I guess not. I think we can discount presbyopia if things get back into focus because of something other than distance. You'd really know it, move closer to the whatever you are looking at as little of a fraction of an inch, and the eye muscles would strain to extend the range of focus, but if it couldn't achieve it, it would stay out of focus, and you'd feel the muscle pain right away.

The time of day and headache thing seem like significant clues, keep on it!

Another thing to be aware of, is that some functions of your two eyes work together, and although you have pain in one eye, it doesn't always mean that the source of the problem is in that eye. When I had really awful iritis in my left eye, and it went super light sensitive, I kept it closed all the time AND wore an eye patch over it to keep out as much light as possible. But it would hurt anyway, even when only the right eye got exposed to any light. At first this made no sense to me, but it was explained that the irises of both eyes work in tandem, not independently. Just like the f stop in a automatic camera reacts by opening the lens larger and smaller to respond to different amounts of light. So that meant that my inflamed left iris was still adjusting and moving although it was getting no light, and that's why it still hurt so &&!!!!! much!

Let's hope it has been a side affect of the prednisone, and will continue to improve now that you are off of it!

He didn't. Grrr. He just kept going on and on about how different my prescription is from my glasses that I just got. I kept trying to explain that my glasses were fine until the week before when I took the pills.

Argh. Should I go to someone else? Even my optometrist takes pictures and does the more in-depth assessment.

This doc literally did the eye chart with me, asked about my medications, shined a flash light into both eyes, told me he saw spots, handed me my new prescription and that's it. I asked him about a minute in if he'd please check the pressure. He said he already did (with a blue laser...only I don't remember a blue laser).

Thanks for your help. Any more advice?

Will do!



Ahh....I wonder if this is why my right eye is the bad eye, but my left eye is the one that felt sore and warm.

Thanks for the f stop example (very good example!!!).



Thanks. That's what I'm hoping. If he'd done a more thorough exam, I wouldn't be worried right now. I'm sure it is nothing to worry about. I hope. In theory. Heh.

Hon, since he specifically said spots and didn't elaborate, I wouldn't get too fussed about it. Just have your eye doctor keep an eye on things and be proactive about eye issues.

Warm hugs,

Holly,
I hope your eye is settling down... Been away and just catching up on the forum. I want to check that the doc did look in your eye with a slit lamp , rather than just with a flash light. My understanding is that it is only using this that they can see the preciptation/immune cells in the eye to diagnose iritis.

I haven't always had typical iritis symptoms, tending more towards low key/pain free. I did discover though that I get similar symptoms with blepharitis as for iritis. And treating that is easy as, so it might be worth trying to see if that helps. Saw my doc recently, and he commented that people can be more prone to blepharitis during the winter months as the air is drier. Although, I guess that depends on where you live... Here are a couple of good links from the UK. I bathe my eyes with the baking soda, as I always have that on hand anyway. I have also found that I can't really use make up anymore, as anything around my eyes tends to irritate.

blepharitis
iritis

Will keep my fingers crossed for you that it is just a rough patch and there isn't anything else going on. But if you notice anything new or different call the doc straight away and insist on an appointment same day.