Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Conjunctivitis anyone?

Hello

Today I woke up and both of my eyes were blood red.....I thought ..hmmm I must be tired....so didn't think much of it....I took Becca to the docs today.....her jaw is now cracking and popping has had a hard time eating....but while in her office...the doc says to me...."you need to have your eyes checked"...I looked in the mirror..and scared the heck out of me...they were both deep red...I mean...red..red..red.....she said...get seen today!.....so...just got back from the docs....told him about my AS...never seen this guy before....and since I do not know about all of the eye disorders I have heard some of you talk about...just wanted to get some feedback....he says it is conjunctivitis....gave me some drops.....I have never had anything like this before.....so he said give these drops a couple of days.....can I rest assured that is what this is?....anyone had this before.?....just want to make sure it's not AS related and something is being missed...have heard so many eye stories around here....thanks for any feedback....

Lovie Dovies...from Becca and Debbie

Debbie,
I haven't had conjunctivitis before, but my AS was diagnosed because of iritis that I acquired Christmas Eve. I only had one eye get red. Like yours, mine got real deep red too. I hope the drops work for you soon. I would hate to see anyone go through the continuing 3 month ordeal that I have.
Best of luck to you.


Glenn


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What makes the hottentots so hot? What puts the ape in apricot? Whadda they got that I ain't got?....

Hi Debbie,
I haven't had conjunctivitis, but I have had iritis. Iritis causes the eye to be red, painful, watery, and sensitive to light. Also, it usually only occurs in one eye at a time, though I believe someone here (Cindy? Kristin?) has had it in both eyes at the same time. If your eyes aren't painful, it probably is conjunctivitis. I'm sure someone else will know more about that than I do. Did you see an opthalmologist today? I absolutely love my optometrist, but don't trust him to diagnose medical eye problems. So, if you haven't already seen an opthalmologist and your eyes aren't better in a day or two, please go see one, OK? Take care.

Connie

Connie,

I am not sure who has had it in both eyes concurrently (not me), but HLA-B27 or AS-associated uveitis almost always presents as unilateral anterior iritis or iridocyclitis. I believe I read that if it is bilateral (2 eyes) that another cause should be strongly considered.

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Kristin

TODAY IS NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL!!

Hi,
My AS was diagnosed with a flare-up with Iritis also! I believe that conjunctivitis is like pink eye right? Make sure you see an opthomologist who is familiar with iritis and knows if your iris is enflamed. This is VERY important! My brother with AS had lost his right eye to severe iritis and it later attacked his left eye. He is a quad because of an accident and is confined to a nursing home so he has to generally take the Dr that is assigned to that day. When he had a flare-up of iritis in his left eye the Dr insisted that it was Pink Eye and treated him with the antibiotic drops and not the steroid drops he needed for the iritis. My parents were on vacation so they didn't realized how bad it was and by the time they got back his pupil had "frozen" and he eventually lost the sight in his left eye too.
Please do not think I am trying to FREAK you out! I just want you to have the proper treatment you need! Hope this helps and doesn't totally upset you!
Janet

Edited by buckwheat on 03/26/02 08:30 PM (server time).

Thanks Connie...

I did schedule an appointment for Thursday for the Opto....but thought before I get there...I can be equipped with some questions I should ask or things I want her to look for after getting some feedback here.....just hope the red goes away soon...Becca says I'm scaring her!

Lovie Dovies...from Becca and Debbie

EEEEEEEEhhh GGGAAAAADS!!!!!!! Janet!....first of all...how aweful...and I am sorry something so tragic happened....and I do take the eye thing very very seriously..that is exactly why I made this post...I have a tendancy to worry....I try not to...but....well you how it goes.....so I will be sure to discuss this ...thanks for your concern ....your advise well taken

Lovie Dovies...from Becca and Debbie

Maybe I'm mistaken about someone here having it in both eyes, Kristin. I know it's usually unilateral. I still remember my diagnosis from the eye clinic at the IU med center--"acute recurrent unilateral iritis". That's when I tested positive for HLA-B27 too.

Connie

Debbie,
I have iritis currently in both eyes. It started with one eye and then went to both about 2 weeks after my initial flare up. Mine did start with eye pain, like a head ache but in the eye ball itself. Then after a couple days I couldn't look into any kind of light no matter how dim. If you notice sensitivity to light please go to an opthomologist ASAP! Hope you see (no pun intended! :-) ) a big improvement soon! Keep us posted!
Janet

Janet,

That is very strange... Have your doctors ruled out other causes of iritis?

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Kristin

TODAY IS NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL!!