Autoimmune disorders can be tedious and painful. If you suffer from an autoimmune disorder, then you might be a little confused about the inner workings of your disease. Not only are autoimmune diseases significant to your overall health, but they also can be extremely confusing. So whether you were just diagnosed, or you’ve been living with your disease for years, you might still have questions about the disease that is running rampant through your body.
One of the most important things you can do for your health is to go to the doctor regularly in order to keep tabs on all of your body systems. Eye doctors are especially important to patients who suffer from autoimmune diseases. Many of the disorders that affect a person’s joints and muscles can also cause painful inflammation in the eyes.
So, if you are one of the millions of sufferers of an autoimmune disease, then make an appointment with your eye doctor ASAP, especially if you suffer from one of the following disorders.
Behcet’s disease is known as a gnarly autoimmune disease that can cause blindness. Fortunately it’s very rare and can often be treated if caught early. The disease affects a variety of body systems, and often presents itself with symptoms in the mouth and eyes. Patients with this disease will notice an increase in mouth ulcers and sores, and blurry vision due to inflammation in the eyes.
The disease was founded in 1937 by a dermatologist by the name of Hulusi Behcet. In 1924 a patient came to see him complaining of constant mouth sores and eye issues. After seeing the patient for years, Dr. Behcet reported the patient’s symptoms and his findings to the Journal of Skin and Venereal Diseases in 1936. Today, the disease is widely recognized in the medical world.
Symptoms of Behcet’s Disease are often isolated to the mouth and eyes, although symptoms can appear throughout the body. Some of the eye symptoms that are associated with the disease include uveitis in the posterior and anterior of the eye and retinal vasculitis.
All of these symptoms can cause eye pain, blurry vision and dry eyes. Treatment of the disease is often catered to the patient’s symptoms. For eye symptoms, ophthalmologists often prescribe steroid eye drops and pain relievers to keep the inflammation in the eyes to a minimum.
Unfortunately, over time, Behcet’s Disease can cause blindness is some of its sufferers. If you have any of the eye symptoms listed above, then it’s important to visit your eye doctor and ask about the disorder. People who are diagnosed with the disease early can be treated properly, and will have a higher chance of keeping their vision as they grow older.
Lupus and Eye Problems
Lupus is a systematic disorder that is classified as a disease with widespread inflammation and pain. The disease often presents itself differently in each patient, and is commonly difficult to diagnose for this reason. Rheumatologists can diagnose the disease in patients who have presented with similar symptoms for many months.
They also utilize a variety of serological tests to check for blood markers that indicate an autoimmune disease. Symptoms of lupus are often widespread and include headaches, fatigue, joint pain, massive inflammation and a general feeling of anxiety. Often patients who present with these symptoms report feeling run down and not having very much energy.
Lupus can also cause a variety of eye issues, which normally don’t present themselves as primary symptoms; however they may occur as the disease progresses. Eye issues with lupus mostly include chronic dry eyes and eye pain. Sjogren’s syndrome is another autoimmune disease that many Lupus sufferers also have. Sjogren’s syndrome is a disease that causes mucus membranes in your body to dry up. This leads to dry eyes, among other symptoms.
Lupus itself can also lead to dry eyes occasionally. Another issue that affects eye health with Lupus comes from taking the popular drug Plaquenil. This drug is known to cause retinal detachment in many patients, which can lead to blindness or severe loss of vision in many patients if it isn’t treated immediately. Other eye issues that might stem from Lupus include conjunctivitis, iritis, and retinal vasculitis.
Other Autoimmune Disorders and Eye Health
Your eyes are an important organ in your body that help you function properly. Many people when faced with the idea of losing their sight become agitated and highly anxious. The idea of going blind someday strikes fear in many people’s heart and minds. So, if you do have an autoimmune disorder, even one other than Lupus, Sjogren’s Syndrome or Behcet’s Disease, then you might want to ask your doctor about possible eye issues that could occur.
Most of the eye problems associated with autoimmune diseases are simple, and easy to fix, but some of the problems can be threatening to your vision. This is why it is super important to listen to your doctor and be honest about your symptoms. You wouldn’t want to realize too late that your eyes could be affected by your illness.