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

I woke up with some red eyes this morning but the Vodka bottle was also half empty - hmmmmmm!!!

Don't muck around with your eyes. Go and see a specialist ASAP and tell him/her you have AS and this is iritis not conjunctivitis which I believe are two different things. The former affects the pupil (red eyes) while the latter affects the whites of the eyes. I'm not 100% sure of that description but I think thats the basic description.

From what I understand, iritis should be treated within 24hrs with some type of cortisone solution or else there is a risk of eye damage. Like some before me who have commented on the urgency of this I too don't want to freak people out but its a little more serious than "Vodka eyes"

Don't think you can - KNOW YOU CAN

I just found this tid bit of information ....

Persistent conjunctivitis can be a sign of an uncommon underlying illness in the body. Most often these are rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Conjunctivitis is also seen in Kawasaki's disease (a rare disease associated with fever in infants and young children) and certain inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease.

so again..I asked my doctor is my eye problem today related to my AS and he says no?...I'm really so ingnorant... other than HLA + diagnosis..I have never been sick with anything....so I just read a medical site and found that pink eye and conjunctivitis are the same thing...I didn't even know that...other than blood red eyes....I don't have any of the symptoms of pink eye....and would you have both eyes red like this with pink eye.....*sigh*...Im getting confused...probably should just use the medicine..and wait to see the Opto Thursday...


Lovie Dovies...from Becca and Debbie

Hi Debbie-
Everyone has already offered great advice....I had iritis, my eye was reddish, but more importantly if I looked at a light, any light, pressure built up and I felt like my eye was going to explode!! It mellowed when I looked away or covered it up....the docs got me right in, gave me prednisone drops, and a week or so later it was fine. That's how I got diagnosed with AS, from the eye doc!!!!

Hope things get better fast!!

Peace
Linc

Linc O'Brien

Krystyn,
Hum. . .I am new to all this! Just today received final dx that I officially have AS. I was told that AS and iritis go hand in hand. Not sure what you mean about other causes? Can you please let me know. Can there be something more than just the AS?
Thanks,
Janet

well first off...thanks for the giggle...

and it is the whites of my eyes...I mean...they are nasty looking right now...looks like I have been swimming in chlorine for about 2 days.....or..like I've been standing on my head for an hour........but...all kidding aside...I am in a little bit of a panic.....I look in the mirror and see if I can see white yet...and ..nope...just red....so I just need to get through tomorrow..and then I can see the eye doc....no such thing as getting "right in" to a doctor in California...DANG!.....thanks for the input...

Lovie Dovies...from Becca and Debbie

Re: Conjunctivitis anyone? ..... ummmmm no thanks.

Ok... I had to leave that smart AS remark .... you know one of those "its there ya gotta take it" kind of things. And I love your sense of humor so thought you wouldn't get after me too bad

All kidding aside though, I haven't been diagnosed with this before... I do have eye problems, (am blind in one eye) but don't think that is AS related. I agree with everyone else in that you need to get it checked and keep at them about thinking it is related to the AS. I hope you get some relief and try to rest your eyes as much as you can until you can get in.
Take care Debbie... hope it is better soon

"Just like moons and like suns, with the certainty of tides. Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise." Maya Angelou

My eye doc told me to see him immediately if I had any eye problems...especially if it seemed like I had conjuntivitis, because it probably wasn't. See you doctor ASAP!!!

Michelle

Dear Debbie:

If your eyes are really RED and you are not extremely photophobic (really hurts to look into a light of about any intensity), it is almost certainly conjunctivitis. One of the reasons that we are more susceptible to this viral infection is that we do not produce tears in the right amount, due to an underlying Sjögren's condition (it is one of the most common, and the most underreported/undiagnosed form of arthritis) that everyone with AS 'enjoys.'

There are some rather arcane things associated with AS that few doctors know very much about. He is, probably, right about the conjunctivitis. This is communicable, and working with microscopes as I used to caused me to get it several times.

It is very uncommon for Iritis to begin in both eyes simultaneously, but conjunctivitis often affects both eyes at the same time.

Good luck and I hope your eyes clear up quickly,
John

Ok Pam...yep...you did crack me up....didn't think of it that way...lol....still laughing....too funny.....sorry...wasn't ready to pass it out like some of that Vodka Ozlion was talking about.....will be more careful next time....lol

Lovie Dovies...from Becca and Debbie

Hi John...

Your post just brought me great relief....I literally felt some weight lift off my shoulders reading your words....I have to say...the way you put it into words had a very calming effect on my anxious heart.......your description made me feel quite certain it is conjunctivits....I had spoken with Cheryl earlier..and she had mentioned the same thing regarding the eyes not tearing properly.... the last time I was at the Opto...just a few months back..she had mentioned I did have a "dry spot" on my left eye......so should I then look into the Sjogrens?....how is that diagnosed?.....thanks so much John...I greatly appreciate the information.....

Lovie Dovies...from Becca and Debbie