Eye pressure

[Guest guest]

Pat -

The important thing to remember is that while most all

autoimmune disorders have that one distinguishing

factor (like a positive Rh factor for RA, or the

HLA-B27 antigen for PA), a negative result does NOT

rule out the disease. I have the negative Rh factor

and positive HLA-B27 antigen, but my symptoms are more

in line with RA than PA.. to satisfy the insurance

company, I am classified as PA, and my doctor works on

my treatment in both RA and PA treatment procedures.

So, while you tested negative for Sjogren's, that

doesn't rule it out completely.. make sure you keep an

eye on it (no pun intended) and make your rheumy aware

of any new symptoms. My younger sister has Reynaud's,

with none of the positive blood factors associated

with it, and she is only being treated for it because

she kept after her doctor with the symptoms.

--- Pat B <PBias@...> wrote:

> Since being on the medications I have had increased

> eye pressure. Bad

> enough I had to start taking blood pressure med

> because of the pain

> and inflammation roller coastering the BP. The eye

> Doctor kept doing

> eye tests for over a year and now he gave me some

> drops to take since

> the pressures roller coaster. High running around

> 31-28 when should

> be well below 22. He said to put one drop in at

> night for three weeks

> in only the left eye and come back to see what

> results there are to

> compare eyes. Last night I put the drop in and this

> morning I can

> feel a definite difference in the eyes. Strange.

> I know we are suppose to keep a watch for Irisitis

> and I have already

> had the lower duct plugs put in for dry eyes. Eye

> doc sez Sjorgen's

> Syndrome while Rheumy said he did the blood test and

> it came back

> negative. All I know is what I feel and the eyes are

> moister since

> the plugs were put in the tear ducts.

> Will let you know how the eye drops work....

>

> PatB

> (the one in Alabama)

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I have been on drops for about 3 years, to control the pressure in my eyes. My

pressure has remained low since January when I had my first cataract surgery. I

had the other cataract removed 3 weeks ago and now my opthamologist is going to

try taking me off the drops and watch me carefully to see if it starts to go up

again. He also said that once you start the drops you need them for life, seems

maybe not !!

Patsy (63) El Mirage, AZ

DX 2005 Stage 1 PBC

AIH/SLE/RA

[Guest guest]

Hi Connie,

I am new to the group and haven't even introduced myself yet - I am

Jaana, 46, from Finland, diagnosed with a very violent type of AIH 2,5

years ago. Further introduction will have to wait till tomorrow, since

I am dreadfully tired right now.

I just thought I'd quickly reply to your message as it caught my eye.

I am pretty much in the same situation as you, my pressures are on

about the same level and eventually my eyes are going to have to be

operated due to the glaucoma - even if I get off cortisone one day,

the changes that are already there won't go away.

I just started medication for the eye pressure last week. The most

common type of drop is a type of beta blocker, which usually works

well but may have side effects. If you have any cardiovascular

problems or asthma, ask the doctor to prescribe a different kind of

drug. I don't have heart problems but I still didn't want beta

blockers, so I got something that is called Xalatan, with latanoprost

(prostaglandin). The most often mentioned side effect of those is the

darkening and lengthening of the lashes and the darkening or changing

the eye colour into brown.

In Finland before the doctor can prescribe these drugs, a more

comprehensive check must be carried out. The pressure is then measured

3 times within one day, which gives a much more reliable picture of

the real situation. Like blood pressure, eye pressure can change

significantly in the course of the day. Mine, for example, was 29 in

the morning, 26 at midday and 24/25 in the evening. You might want to

ask for that type of check as well before starting on the medication.

The doctor should also examine the fundus of the eyes for any damage,

as well as perform a test on your field of vision. That is to check

for any damages that might already have taken place.

Also, starting the drops does not necessarily mean you are on them for

life, on the other hand, even if you were able to go down on

cortisone, the pressure doesn't necessary go down as well (often does,

though). My Mother used the drops (her glaucoma was due to her age)

for about ten years, after which the tests showed she didn't need them

anymore. It is an individual thing.

However, do NOT fear the drops - they are a reasonably simple method

of keeping your eyes in good shape and stopping any damage happening

to them.

Jaana

-

>

> I went to the eye Dr. today and was told the pressure in my eyes

are

> slightly elevated. Caused from the high doses of Prednisone that I

> have been on. The pressure should be nomal 21. and mine are 25 and

28.

> The high pressure in your eye can lead to Glucoma. I go back to

have

> the pressure checked again in a month and if it is higher Doc will

> give me eye drops. He said once you are on drops you are on them for

> life. His hopes is that when I have my next blood test done

(Thursday)

> that I will be able to decrease the Prednisone. Everyone Please Pray

> that I can decrease the Prednisone and that eh pressure goes down.

> Does anyone else have this problem, I am only 43 Dx with AIH in 05.

>

> Connie

>

[Guest guest]

Hi all--

My husband has had some eye pressure lately---he says he cant really

classify it as a headache, it is more localized to the eye area. And it

always seems to be on his left eye--the eye that he usually does have edema

in (on?). Does anyone else experience this? He thinks it may be due to the

edema that is due to the Gleevec. He is seeing a opthamologist Friday to

have his eye checked out, we just thought we'd ask the forum to see if

anyone experiences this. Often, when he has it, Tylenol does not help the

pain (though he said he cant really call it " pain " , more of an " ache " )...the

only thing that seems to help is for him to lay down for about 30 minutes

and close his eyes.

Anyone else experience this?

_________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I don't know what's causing your husband's eye pressure but it

doesn't sound like it could be from the edema (to me).

Most of us find that the periorbital edema (eye edema) gets worse

after lying down. That's why it's always worse when we wake up in

the morning and subsides after we've been upright for a while. So if

your husband's problem is improving after lying down, it doesn't

sound like edema would be the cause.

I hope the ophthalmologist can help him.

Take care,

Tracey

>

> Hi all--

> My husband has had some eye pressure lately---he says he cant

really

> classify it as a headache, it is more localized to the eye area.

And it

> always seems to be on his left eye--the eye that he usually does

have edema

> in (on?). Does anyone else experience this? He thinks it may be due

to the

> edema that is due to the Gleevec. He is seeing a opthamologist

Friday to

> have his eye checked out, we just thought we'd ask the forum to see

if

> anyone experiences this. Often, when he has it, Tylenol does not

help the

> pain (though he said he cant really call it " pain " , more of

an " ache " )...the

> only thing that seems to help is for him to lay down for about 30

minutes

> and close his eyes.

>

> Anyone else experience this?

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> With tax season right around the corner, make sure to follow these

few

> simple tips.

>

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Taxes/PreparationTips/Preparation

Tips.aspx?icid=HMFebtagline

>