Rheumatoid arthritis can impact the joints, the skin, the lungs, and the eyes. Rheumatoid arthritis patients may experience grittiness, irritation or dryness of the eyes. Some ocular areas, like the sclera and the cornea, contain collagen too. RA sometimes impacts those tissues too. Some medications that doctors use as RA treatment options can play a part in eye conditions. Here, we will discuss how rheumatology arthritis impacts the eyes, how doctors can treat the conditions and symptoms that RA cause, and more.
Eye Symptoms Related To Rheumatoid Arthritis
RA patients commonly have eye issues. As per a recent review of studies, about one out of five people with rheumatoid arthritis have ocular issues. The patients may have the following rheumatology symptoms that affect their eyes.
- Grittiness
- Irritation
- dryness
- pain
- Redness
- Blurred vision
- Light sensitivity
- Watery eyes
Ocular Conditions Associated With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Here, we will discuss some ocular issues that rheumatoid arthritis may induce or that RA is related to.
Scleritis
It happens as the sclera gets inflamed. As per the American Academy of Ophthalmology, scleritis patients commonly have a different health issues, like RA. Rheumatoid arthritis is the reason for 8 to 15% of cases of scleritis. Experts associate scleritis with Sjögren’s disease as well. Scleritis symptoms include ocular tenderness and pain, blurred vision, too much tearing, and light sensitivity.
Some people may also have tenderness or pain elsewhere in their heads or faces, whereas others may be deprived of part of or all their vision.
Keratitis
Keratitis impacts the cornea with inflammation and comes with vision issues, eye irritation or pain, redness, light sensitivity, trouble opening the lids, too much tearing and other symptoms.
The health condition necessitates prompt treatment since it can contribute to severe complications that potentially damage vision. It sometimes contributes to a complication that can occur at the same time as scleritis or dry eyes.
Uveitis
Uveitis impacts the uvea with inflammation, which can of the following types.
- Anterior uveitis, a form of inflammation that affects the front of the eye
- Posterior uveitis, a type of swelling at the rear of the eye
- Intermediate uveitis, a swelling type amid the eye
In severe uveitis cases, swelling may impact every part of your uvea, which health specialists refer to as panuveitis. Uveitis symptoms can include blurred vision, light sensitivity, and red eye without or with pain.
It takes prompt treatment for you to prevent the complications of uveitis over a long time.
