Dry, red, swollen eyes and sand feeling in the eyes are common symptoms of diseases such as conjunctivitis or uveitis. However, these signs and symptoms can also indicate another type of disease that affects the joints and blood vessels, rheumatic diseases such as lupus, Sjogren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis at any stage of life.
Usually rheumatic diseases are discovered through specific tests, but the ophthalmologist may suspect that the person has this type of disease through the fundus examination, an examination that shows exactly the state of the optic nerve, the veins and arteries that irrigate the eyes, indicating the health of these structures. And if these small blood vessels are compromised, it is possible that others may be too, and that is why the ophthalmologist may indicate that the person is looking for a rheumatologist.
7 Rheumatologic diseases that can affect the eyes
Some rheumatologic diseases that may have ocular manifestations are:
1 - Rheumatoid, psoriatic and juvenile arthritis
Arthritis, which is inflammation of the joints that can have several causes that are not always fully known, can also affect the eye causing changes such as conjunctivitis, scleritis and uveitis . Besides the disease itself may have ocular implications, drugs such as hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine can have side effects that manifest in the eyes and so it is necessary for the person who has arthritis to do the eye fundus examination every six months. Learn to identify and treat rheumatoid arthritis.
2 - Lupus erythematosus
People with lupus have a higher risk of having dry eye syndrome, which manifests itself through symptoms such as burning and pain in the eyes, chorea, sand feeling in the eyes and dry eyes. In addition to the disease itself can affect the eyes, the corticosteroids used in the treatment of lupus, can also have side effects in the eyes and can cause dry eye syndrome, cataracts and glaucoma .
3 - Sjorgen's syndrome
It is a disease where the body itself attacks the cells that produce saliva and tears, leaving the mouth and eyes very dry, being common dry eye syndrome, which increases the risk of chronic conjunctivitis. The person has always dry, reddish eyes, has sensitivity to light and the sensation of sand in the eyes can be frequent.
4 - Ankylosing spondylitis
This is a disease where there is inflammation in the tissues, including in the eyes causing uveitis usually in only 1 eye. The eye may become red and swollen and if the disease lasts for months the other eye may also be affected, with a higher risk of corneal and cataract complications.
5 - Behçet's syndrome
It is a very rare disease in Brazil, characterized by inflammation in the blood vessels, which is usually diagnosed in adolescence, but can seriously affect the eyes causing uveitis with pus in both eyes and inflammation in the optic nerve . Treatment can be done with immunosuppressants such as azathioprine, cyclosporin A, and cyclophosphamide to control symptoms.
6 - Polymyalgia rheumatica
It is a disease characterized by pain in the shoulders, back and difficulty to move due to stiffness in the hip and in the articulation of the shoulders, being common the complaint of pain in all body. When there is involvement of the ocular arteries can occur blurred vision, double vision and even blindness, which can affect only one or both eyes.
7 - Reiter's syndrome
It is a type of arthritis that causes pain and inflammation in the joints but can also cause inflammation in the white part of the eyes and the eyelids leading to the onset of conjunctivitis or uveitis, for example.
Although it is more common for people to discover rheumatic disease first, it is possible that ocular involvement may indicate the presence of rheumatic diseases. But to get to this diagnosis is necessary to perform a series of tests such as x-ray of the joints, magnetic resonance imaging and a genetic test to identify rheumatoid factor, for example.
How to treat ocular complications caused by rheumatism
Treatment for ocular diseases that are directly related to rheumatologic diseases should be guided by the ophthalmologist and rheumatologist and may include the use of eye drops, eye drops and eye drops.
When these diseases occur due to the side effect of medications, the doctor may indicate that it is exchanged for another to improve the quality of the person's vision, but sometimes it is enough to treat the rheumatic disease so that there is improvement of the ocular symptoms.
