Eye Disease Due to Arthritis

Although rheumatoid arthritis usually affects your joints and bones, it can affect your eyes with a number of conditions and diseases, according to the Mayo Clinic. If you have rheumatoid arthritis and you are experiencing any vision problems, eye pain or changes in your vision, you should consult an ophthalmologist for an evaluation.

• Rheumatoid arthritis can affect your eyes.

Diseases/Conditions

• Diseases due to arthritis include dry eyes, uveitis (inflammation of your inner eye), scleritis (inflammation of the whites of your eyes), episcleritis (inflammation of the membrane over the whites of your eyes), glaucoma and cataracts.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of eye disease due to arthritis can include red, painful and irritated eyes, blurry vision and inflammation of the eye, eyelid or inner eye.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosis of eye disease associated with arthritis is made by an ophthalmologist.

Treatment

• Treatment of diseases that are caused by arthritis vary depending upon the specific condition. In many cases you may be given anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid eye drops and/or eye lubricants. In the case of cataracts and glaucoma, surgery may be necessary.

Prevention

• Prevention of eye diseases due to arthritis includes routine visits to your rheumatologist and your ophthalmologist. Early treatment of eye diseases may prevent loss of vision.