First attack of iritis on right eye. Officially diagnosed with severe acute irido cyclitis. Was tested for TB, FTA-ABS and HLA B27. Found to be HLA-B27 positive. Doctor notes says 3+ inj, 1+ flare, small kp, 0.2mm hypopyon, synechiae, dense fibrin on a.c...etc
Treatment:
5% homatropine
pred forte 1% every hour
60mg prednisone daily
The experience:
Stabbing eye pain. blood shot eyes, senstivity to light, watery eyes, vision was terrible. However, with aggresive treatment, gradually inflammation subsided and vision returned to normal.
Episode 2 (2012)
Second attack kinda creeped in quietly. At the end of April some redness started to creep in at corner of left eye. Waited a few days and in less than a week it had turned a bright red and there was sensitivity to light. Saw my PCP, told her about my iritis hisory was refered to in-network Opthamologist and was diagnosed with viral conjunctivitis. Medication did not work. Vision deteriorated. In less than a week back at Opthamologist refered to UIC uveitis specialist prescribed generic steroid drops (4 times a day & Bromday once a day). Uveitis specialist cannot accomadate me till 3 weeks later and even then is a maybe. UIC general eye clinic agreed to look at me. This is where i had received my treatment during my first attack. Was told that i had inflammation at the back of the eye (heard something about borderline 3+, non granulomatous) and possible cyst in infected eye. They used a contraption to take pictures of my eye though strangely it seemed more comprehensive on my right eye than my left eye. But whatever. Was told it looked normal.
Treatment:
Pred Forte (6 times daily)
5% homatropin (once before bed time)
The experience:
Very different experience. Mostly painless. Apart from 1-2 days of pain in the back of the eye. Pain resided somehow. However, vision is much worse this time round. Eye was remaining fully dilated for 5-6 days. Even after i personally decided to halt the dilating drops till my pupl came close to normal size vision would be close to what it was in the morning when i wake up @ 20/30 or 20/40 and as the day progressed it gets blurrier and by the end of the day it usually goes dow all the way to 20/100 or 20/200. Apart from looking a little glazed over, eye superficially looks pretty normal with no obvious inflammation.
MY PREDICAMENT
I have an HMO and everything depends on getting a referal. My follow up appointment is 2 weeks from my first and it is this Friday. I am concerned about my overly dilated pupil that is staying dilated longer than the last time. I am also concerned about my severly reduced vision with gets worse as the day goes on. I don't know if it is typical for two attacks to react so differently. Are there specific questions i should be asking my doctor? Should i be pushing the doctor to do blood tests to see if anything systemic or an autoimmune disease is taking its course. Apart from unusually dry skin, stuffy ears, 30-35lbs of weight gain since 2010, low libido, irratibility and sluggishness i have no other symptoms.
Sorry for this super duper lengthy post. Just feeling a little helpless and just not sure if i am being treated effectively this time round. Not allowed to go back to work till my vision improves
If you read this far i wanna say thank you. Please reply if you have the same issues or you would like to share your thoughts on this insanity.
Thank you.