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Beyond Joints: Eye Dangers in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Dry eyes are a common topic of discussion over at our WebMD Eye & Vision Disorder member community.
Most folks with dry eyes experience symptoms because of inadequate maintenance wetting of the eyes. Tiny accessory lacrimal glands near the eyeball produce these maintenance tears. Tear supplements and topical cyclosporine eyedrops provide effective relief.
Individuals suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) are not so lucky. They have a serious autoimmune disorder wherein their own lymphocytes are targeting their own tissues. RA can lead to complete obliteration of all lacrimal gland tissue with consequent permanent eye damage. Imagine, not only do you lose flexibility and mobility in your joints you may also lose precious eyesight. RA is one diagnosis not to be taken lightly!
New research data recently published in the Journal of Rheumatology highlight these dangers. Nearly 13,000 RA patients were analyzed. 29% of these patients experienced symptomatic dryness of the eyes and mouth. All other RA symptoms were reviewed and compared to the dry eye statistics. This would include complaints like joint pain, fatigue, fever, etc. Guess what? The researchers discovered a very strong, reproducible correlation between combined RA symptoms of fatigue and body pain to the presence of dry eyes.
How is that information helpful? Individuals with early clinical dry eyes are not overwhelmed by dry eye irritation even though the microscopic damage is well underway. Patients often delay seeking care for their dry eyes until the tissue damage is at a more advanced statge. Early medical intervention to arrest the RA-associated damage to the lacrimal glands may preserve healthy moisture levels to the ocular surface and protect the eyes from long-term damage.
Here's the bottom line: Folks diagnosed with RA who experience fatigue combined with body pain ought to seek referral to an experienced ophthalmologist for a complete dry eye evaluation. That should be easy to accomplish. Most rheumatologists (RA specialists) already collaborate with local ophthalmologists because of the required retinal screening for RA patients taking the drug Plaquenil.
Successful RA care requires aggressive management in order to protect the joints and the eyes.
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: eye health, RA, arthritis, rheumatoid, dry eye
Most folks with dry eyes experience symptoms because of inadequate maintenance wetting of the eyes. Tiny accessory lacrimal glands near the eyeball produce these maintenance tears. Tear supplements and topical cyclosporine eyedrops provide effective relief.
Individuals suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) are not so lucky. They have a serious autoimmune disorder wherein their own lymphocytes are targeting their own tissues. RA can lead to complete obliteration of all lacrimal gland tissue with consequent permanent eye damage. Imagine, not only do you lose flexibility and mobility in your joints you may also lose precious eyesight. RA is one diagnosis not to be taken lightly!New research data recently published in the Journal of Rheumatology highlight these dangers. Nearly 13,000 RA patients were analyzed. 29% of these patients experienced symptomatic dryness of the eyes and mouth. All other RA symptoms were reviewed and compared to the dry eye statistics. This would include complaints like joint pain, fatigue, fever, etc. Guess what? The researchers discovered a very strong, reproducible correlation between combined RA symptoms of fatigue and body pain to the presence of dry eyes.
How is that information helpful? Individuals with early clinical dry eyes are not overwhelmed by dry eye irritation even though the microscopic damage is well underway. Patients often delay seeking care for their dry eyes until the tissue damage is at a more advanced statge. Early medical intervention to arrest the RA-associated damage to the lacrimal glands may preserve healthy moisture levels to the ocular surface and protect the eyes from long-term damage.
Here's the bottom line: Folks diagnosed with RA who experience fatigue combined with body pain ought to seek referral to an experienced ophthalmologist for a complete dry eye evaluation. That should be easy to accomplish. Most rheumatologists (RA specialists) already collaborate with local ophthalmologists because of the required retinal screening for RA patients taking the drug Plaquenil.
Successful RA care requires aggressive management in order to protect the joints and the eyes.
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: eye health, RA, arthritis, rheumatoid, dry eye
