• Welcome to Crohn's Forum, a support group for people with all forms of IBD. While this community is not a substitute for doctor's advice and we cannot treat or diagnose, we find being able to communicate with others who have IBD is invaluable as we navigate our struggles and celebrate our successes. We invite you to join us.

Do you have eye inflammation?

David

Co-Founder
Location
Naples, Florida
I'm curious how many of you with a diagnosis of either form of microscopic colitis have some form of eye inflammation? And if you do have it, is it in one or both eyes?

My right eye is rather displeased with me :(
 

Cross-stitch gal

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Vancouver,
I have iritis in both eyes and they're pretty dry and sore quite often. I use eye drops twice a day to keep them moist. Or, at least I try to use the drops that often...
 

David

Co-Founder
Location
Naples, Florida
Thanks Cross-stitch gal :) I know it comes with Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's but am not sure how many fellow people with lymphocytic colitis or collagenous colitis get it.

What kind of drops do you use though? Thanks!
 

Cross-stitch gal

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Vancouver,
No problem David:) The ones that seem to work the best is the systane gel drops. We got samples of them from our eye doctor but they're pretty expensive even with coupons. So, we just get the store brand long lasting formula that lubricates, sooths & has dry eye therapy. Lisa

www.systane.com/Gel-Drops.aspx
 
My eyes are continually dry, and itchy which my Opto attributed to Crohn's. He offered to prescribe something but I declined. I am unable to wear contacts due to the dryness.
 
I'm a CD, but I'm sure there are some similarities with the eye inflammation that comes with UC and CD. I've got uveitis and keep 2 drops on hand at all times. One is a generic "fresh tears" thing for when my eye gets dry - it's over the counter. The other is alrex for when the inflammation gets bad- which is a steroid and has to be prescribed by a dr. They work really well for me. Good luck!
 
I am eye inflammation. I had uvititis and scleritis nearly none stop for 2 years. My understanding is that it occurs in ~10% of crohn's. I have had it in both eyes and am HLA-B27 negative, which i believe is concurrent with my genetic status (but i get confused about that) (I also don't know how this gene goes with crohn's it's associated with AS) I proubley would have never been checked for crohn's except for my eye issues.

Go to the eye doctor! the topical steroids aren't that bad especially if you only uses them for a short time, inflammation in the eye can be very damaging. also ask about asprin drops (bromday) and get your self some good sun glasses.
Even if this time your eye is fine. Crohn's people should definitely get there eye checked more often an have an eye doctor that they are familiar with just incase. you might want to ask your GI if they have a eye doctor they work with.
 
I was dx with IBS (BS) when I was just out of high school (Many moons ago.). I don't know how the docs arrived at that dx since they did not do endoscopy or colonoscopy etc. etc. etc. Guess it was the easy way out.

Any way, I wanted to let you know that I recently ended my Rx for eye inflammation. I have dangerously dry eyes. I didn't know it could be dangerous. Apparently your optic nerves and cornea can be damaged from dry eyes. I have the dry eyes and inflammation in both eyes. I have had the punctual (Sp?) tubes put in both eyes. I am on Restasis, Refresh Tears up to 4x daily and preservative free eye lubricating drops as often as needed. You can only use Refresh Tears 4 times a day and no more. I also use the Gentel night time gel. I can honestly say that dry eyes to this extent is painful.

I take fish oil to try to help with my oil glands in the eye. Apparently the oil glands are supposed to produce thin clear oil for your eyes. I was told my oil is the consistency of tooth paste. Lovely.

I'm too young to be falling apart.

Just got some of my blood work results back and there seems to be a lot going on. Bummer Guess I could start a whole new thread wit this. LOL!
 
I was diagnosed with crohn's and had iritis in the past. (scary) and still have constant problem with my eyes, being irritated and red and dry. Dryness doesn't help as the eye doesn't have a protective coating on it so that makes one more susceptible to eye conditions and diseases. I was told by the eye doctor that the surface of my eyes under examination resembles roughed out areas like someone took sand paper to it. I use systane Day and Night which helps for now. I use to use Genteal but that doesn't work for me anymore, I also use to use muro128 which was prescribed by an eye doctor, that no longer works on a daily basis. Funny how the eye gets use to it, or should I say reject the drops, ointments after a while.
 
Daisy, most likely your eyes are getting worse and not "rejecting" the drops etc. When was the last time you had the eye doc re-check your eyes?

My stomach issues are worse right now as is the inflammation in my eyes and the dryness.

Make sure you blink frequently when using the computer etc. We have a tendency to not blink when using computers etc. also, polarized lenses help with light that bothers our eyes.
 
Thanks, I was checked not long ago. I do have polarized prescription sun glasses and wear my sun glasses at all times. I find the wind dries them out too. I think what contributes to my dryness, is that I'm dehydrated most of the time because of the chronic diarrhea associated with the crohn's. Also I do not absorb my fats and nutrients as I should, partially because of the crohn's and I'm sure some of the absorbing intestine was removed so isn't as efficient as it was before.
I hope your eyes improve as well because it gets pretty uncomfortable at times with the itch and redness and burning.
 
Daisy, I have significant dehydration issues as well. I have an implanted port and do IV hydration therapy at home just about every night. One thing that helps with electrolytes is to take a scoop of powder Gatorade and a pkg of Knox Clear Gelatin and mix the two together. Follow the direct ons on the Knox box for making gelatin. Eat all the Gatorade jello in one day. This gives you one quart worth of electrolytes. You could also mix one scoop of powder Gatorade with 8 - 10 oz of water and drink it right up. Any flavor Gatorade will do.
 
Hi, this is my first post in this forum. Our GP now believes that Grace has ME and on Tuesday will discuss where to go from here.

David just like you Grace has right eye pain. She's had it for 6 mo. now. Hers only last a couple minutes and seem sharp and painful. It happens mostly on sunny days or well lit rooms but has happen in the middle of the night before.
 
My advice - if in any doubt, get your eyes checked, preferably by by an ophthalmologist (pupils dilated, slit lamp). Iritis/uveitis can be a sight threatening condition, most often associated with large bowel IBD. Eye pain, blurred vision, redness encroaching beyond the white conjunctiva and onto the iris, and contracted pupils are significant signs to be aware of.


HD
 
I used Lotemax for my eye inflammation. I see the specialist again later this month. I'm guessing she may put me back on the Lotemax. We shall see...

My right eye was the first to act up. Eventually, both eyes acted up. My vision is worse in my right eye than my left. I have both far and near sightedness and use progressive polarized lenses. I have a separate pair of polarized reading glasses because of needing two different reading lenses. I can use the progressive lenses for reading short things like a menu at a restaurant. If I'm checking my daughter's school work, reading a book or newspaper or working on the computer, I use my reading glasses. If I don't then I get eye pain and headaches. I also turn the brightness down on my computer. I used to be able to turn down the brightness on my old TV. Unfortunately not on my new (but old) TV. I will have to see if the prices have come down yet on the newer TV's that you can adjust the brightness on. They are hard to come by. Don't know why the brightness feature was not included on the newer TV's.

Farmwife, please get Gracie's eyes checked by a knowledgeable professional. Preferably by a pediatric specialist who is knowledgeable of children with multiple health issues. We (two of my kids and I) go to Wilmer Eye Institute at John's Hopkins in Baltimore. If you can find a center to that caliber, I would take Gracie there. Keep us up to date on what you find out.:kiss:

Blessings and prayers, NL
 
I have had perfect eyesight until this year, and now I can hardly see anything at all out of my left eye. Everything is really blurry, I have to close it to read anything, and I get headaches a lot. I was diagnosed with LC a couple weeks ago so maybe that's the cause of my eye trouble.. no health insurance until October so I won't know anything more until then.
 
Hello,

I am an optometrist as a profession. I did my residency in ocular disease in the VA system. I have a few broad comments. Uvitis or Iritis are both eye inflammation that can come with IBD. They can cause a LOT of damage to the eye and should be treated promptly. A true uveitis or iritis cannot be treated with over the counter artificial tears (systane, optive, genteal etc.) Lotemax is a mid level steroid, I question if it would be used for active inflammation, I wouldn't prescribe it to any of my patients. Usually Pred-Forte or Prednisolone Acetate would be used in these situations, every hour in the affected eye. For extreme situations there is Durezol. There is some thought that Vitamin D levels may be low in this population, if you have trouble with Uvitis or Iritis it is worth asking for a Vit D level in your next bloodwork. Remember that even topical steroids have consequences and should only be taken under the care of a professional.

For chronic Dry Eye that is not better with artificial tears, I would ask your eye doctor about using a short dose of a low or mid level steroid (lotemax, dexamethasone etc.) and follow it up with Restasis (cyclosporine). Restasis is a good drug, but usually takes at least 3 months to work. Dry eye is often secondary to active inflammation and Restasis helps with this inflammation.

I hope this helps clear up some of the unknowns, bottom line is that we are all at risk and if a red eye presents make sure that you see someone ASAP.
 
Great advice Peduncle! My first round of iritis I had hourly Pred Forte drops for several weeks, and saw the ophthalmology prof every 2nd day.. Not a Dx to be take lightly!


HD
 
Hello,

I am an optometrist as a profession. I did my residency in ocular disease in the VA system. I have a few broad comments. Uvitis or Iritis are both eye inflammation that can come with IBD. They can cause a LOT of damage to the eye and should be treated promptly. A true uveitis or iritis cannot be treated with over the counter artificial tears (systane, optive, genteal etc.) Lotemax is a mid level steroid, I question if it would be used for active inflammation, I wouldn't prescribe it to any of my patients. Usually Pred-Forte or Prednisolone Acetate would be used in these situations, every hour in the affected eye. For extreme situations there is Durezol. There is some thought that Vitamin D levels may be low in this population, if you have trouble with Uvitis or Iritis it is worth asking for a Vit D level in your next bloodwork. Remember that even topical steroids have consequences and should only be taken under the care of a professional.

For chronic Dry Eye that is not better with artificial tears, I would ask your eye doctor about using a short dose of a low or mid level steroid (lotemax, dexamethasone etc.) and follow it up with Restasis (cyclosporine). Restasis is a good drug, but usually takes at least 3 months to work. Dry eye is often secondary to active inflammation and Restasis helps with this inflammation.

I hope this helps clear up some of the unknowns, bottom line is that we are all at risk and if a red eye presents make sure that you see someone ASAP.

Thank you so much! You've given me so much food for thought. I have low vitimin D levels. They have been low for years. Dry eyes seem worse since my concussion. Is this normal? GI system is still in a flare. Eyes seem to be overly dry right now. I also think there is inflammation again. I was supposed to see the specialist at WEI again but had to cancel due to the concussion.
 
Location
canada
my eyes started bothering me maybe the last year. Saw a eye dr. couple months ago and said bad dry eye and infectionto eye lids and clogged oil glands. She didn't say anything about inflammation. Told me to use warm facecloth 10-20 min 2x/day. And second use baby shampoo to gently wash eyelids and gently press on the lids. Told me to use fish oil or flax seed oil. I took long to start the flax seed meal becasue scared it would upset my stomach. I tried and went back 1 month later and she couldn't believe the dryness was normal in right eye but not in left but improvement. That was 2 months ago but my eyes still bother me, itchy and sometimes sore. I'm going to see her again next thur. Do you have to have redness in eyes to have inflammation.
 
Location
Toronto
I don't have much to add really... But I have had a lot of trouble with my eyes (especially my left). It was constantly itchy and watered, and was always red. I did notice that as soon as I started Prednisone, it pretty much stopped immediately, and I havent had many issues since. My eyes tend to be very sensitive to light as well.
Thats my two cents! :)
 
I get pink eye ALOT. Especially in the Fall when my allergies get bad. I had pink eye two weeks ago and this morning I got up and I have it again. :ymad: I'm not sure if it's connected to the Crohn's but my immune system is whacky.
 
Top