Re: Thanks Tracie re: eye flares

[Guest guest]

Tracie,

Thank you for all the detail in your explanation. I use Systance eye drops along with the Pred drops and a drop for glaucoma. My presures have been really good since the cataract surgeries, he the Opthamologist still has me using them. I have some nighttime gel to us but find it make the swelling in my eye lid worse. Dr Hodges has talked about putting in "plugs" for the dry eye. I see the eye him every two weeks and sometimes wonder if I will forever. I am just thankful that I finially got good docs on my side. I think my eyes are a little better today so hopefully the Remicade is doing it's job. Other than a headache I didn't have a bad reaction..but I think the headache was more because my IV infiltrated and I had to be stuck a couple of time to get it going again than from the Remicade. We take such chances with these drugs but I'd rather have a couple of more good years on Remicade & the other drugs than 10 without them

..

Thanks again

Ruth>> Part of the reason for our dry eye problem is that the lacrimal glands under > the eyelids get inflammed, and can't produce tears the way they should. > Artificial tears can be used as often as you feel you need them. Since the > cornea is 80% water, and it has to have that film of fluid to refract the > images that you see-- if it gets dry- it distorts the view. > Restasis is an eyedrop available by prescription- and was developed for > treatment of inflammation due to lacrimal inflammation.> For us, we can end up with iritis--inflammation of the iris, > uveitis--inflammation of the spider-like web ligaments that allow the iris to open and close > to let in the light. > when either of these becomes inflammed- you run an extreme risk of acute > glaucoma. > If you become light sensitive- (photophobic), find that tears aren't > helping-- your eyes get red and inflammed, then it's time to get them checked. > Many of our patients used to come in with "flu-like symptoms" but never had a > fever-- but had the headache, the light sensitivity, were nauseated, and had > lost peripheral vision-- only to find out that the problem wasn't the flu-- > but was glaucoma pressures so high that if they'd gone ot the GP-- they would > have lost their vision.> The problem with glaucoma is that in most cases, it comes on slowly-- so over > a period of years, people find that they've lost that peripheral vision. > It's like looking thru a straw, and only seeing what is in front of you- and you > can't see what's beside you. Diabetes, Glaucoma and Macular degeneration are > the top 3 robbers of vision.> Most of the meds we take make our eyes dry. They also have an increased risk > of glaucoma and cataracts. If you are on Plaquenil, you should be getting > full exams every six months--as Plaquenil can be toxic to the macula and retina > of the eyes. this can be seen with the symptom of losing your central > vision. It's like someone plugged up that straw-- and now you see peripherally, but > not what is directly in front of you. There is what is called an Amsler > Grid-- its a simple graph paper square with 1/4 inch squares-- and a dot in the > middle. Your MD can give you this-- and you hang it on the refrigerator--and > look at it each day-- if you notice that you can't see the dot or center > squares-- get in to the OPHTHALMOLOGIST (md) and get it checked out. When you call-- > explain that you feel you're losing your central vision-- and they should get > you in immediately. > > As for me, I've got some cataracts developing, and my eyes are very dry-- but > no iritis right now. so this is good. I do have to go back Friday for a > visual field test-- as my eye pressures were high- and we want to be sure the > Plaquenil and sarcoidosis isn't putting me into the glaucoma world.> > Take care,> Tracie> NS Co-owner/moderator>