Arthritis is commonly understood as inflammation of the joints. However, what most people do not know is that it can also cause problems in other unexpected areas such as the eyes.
Rheumatoid arthritis, particularly, is believed to affect the eyes. People who experience arthritis-related eye problems are more common in women and tend to worsen as arthritis progresses.
Eye Conditions Linked With Arthritis
Keratitis sicca
Keratitis sicca, also known as dry eye syndrome, is a condition when there are insufficient tears produced to keep the eyes moist and more commonly affects women than men.
Causes include:
- secondary Sjogren’s syndrome
- rheumatoid arthritis
Symptoms:
- dryness
- a sensation of something is in the eye
- blurry vision
Treatment:
- arthritis medication
- topical ointment
- artificial tears or eye drops
- using a humidifier in the room
Scleritis
Scleritis is the inflammation of the sclera or the white portion of the eye. This can make the sclera or the cornea too thin and cause the eye to rupture.
Causes include:
- rheumatoid arthritis inflammation
- autoimmune diseases such as granulomatosis and polychondritis
- infections
Symptoms:
- persistent redness
- reduced vision
- light sensitivity
- severe pain
Treatment:
- oral corticosteroids
- intravenous medications to decrease inflammation
Uveitis
Uveitis is the inflammation of the uvea or the vascular part of the eye located between the sclera and the retina.
Causes include:
- juvenile arthritis
- psoriatic arthritis
- Behcet’s disease
- reactive arthritis
- ankylosing spondylitis
Symptoms:
- blurred vision
- eye pain
- redness
- light sensitivity
- sensitivity to light
Treatment:
- corticosteroid eye drops or injections
- antibiotics if infection occurs
Children who have psoriatic arthritis must be regularly screened for uveitis frequently because symptoms may not appear until it is too late and the eyesight is permanently damaged.
Cataracts
Cataract is a condition where the lens of the eye becomes opaque and causes diminished vision.
Causes include:
- ankylosing spondylitis
- rheumatoid arthritis
- oral or topical steroid use
- psoriatic arthritis
Symptoms:
- faded looking colors
- cloudy or blurred vision
- poor night vision
Treatment:
- to surgically remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial one
Glaucoma
Glaucoma occurs when the optic nerve is damaged due to high eye pressure.
Causes include:
- juvenile idiopathic arthritis
- ankylosing spondylitis
- corticosteroid therapy side effect
Symptoms:
- pain
- seeing rainbow-colored halo around lights
- blurred vision
- blank spots in the visual field
Treatment:
- eye drops
- surgery to decrease eye pressure
- avoiding or decreasing corticosteroid use
When to Visit Your Doctor
If you have arthritis and are experiencing any changes in your vision, consult your doctor as soon as possible. Early treatment and diagnosis prevent further eye damage and permanent loss of vision.
