My Experience

[Kathleen]

It is helpful to know there are other people out there going through these experiences. I have repetitive Iritis. I first got it when I was in my early twenties. I have gotten it in both eyes but never at the same time. I can tell when I am getting it very early on, before the doctors can see indications of it. Sometimes the doctors will just give me the drops and sometimes they will not. I have it now and saw the doctor on Sat morning but he didn't think I had it. There were three of us coming in that day for iritis. The receptionist told me. Many patients seem to get it at the same time. Of course I do have it, I have never been wrong about knowing if I have Iritis. The way I tell is I put my finger in front of my face and follow it up to my nose or just look close up at something. If it hurts then I know I have iritis. I am going back to see him today and he will give me the drops. He knows that many iritis patients know when they are getting it. He doesn't want me to use steroids if I don't need it.
I don't know if you are in Canada or not or what your rules are there but we have an interesting situation here. It used to be that you had to see an ophthalmologist for treatment. About 2 years ago or so, they changed the rules and now optometrists are allowed to treat Iritis. At first I thought this was good because I have had some great ophthalmologist and some that were not so good. My first two were amazing. I was diagnosed very early the first time correctly and had excellent treatment. I moved to a new city and met my second doctor at emergency. He was kind and very knowledgeable. I then moved and tried a closer doctor. He was not good. The next time I got it I tried someone else and he was equally bad. Mostly just not kind and didn't want to give you support as you are getting better, didn't want to be bothered with frequent checking in to see if things are progressing but I was still getting better. Once in the early days I had to get a shot. Never forget that... but it worked. Anyway the optometry problem..... so I go to the optometrist thinking this will be easier. No need to get a referral but it is a optometry clinic so when you ask for an apt today they give you the newbie optometrist because the experienced people don't want to be inconvenienced. This guy was completely incompetent. He gave me some new kind of drops and they were not working but he couldn't tell that they were not working. So he just said I should start weening off them. He didn't think I should keep using the drops on my eyes. I remembered another optometrist in the area who was really knowledgeable and thorough and I went to him and told him my problem. He took me on right away even though I am not sure the rules allow you to see someone else's patient. I had forgotten the type of drop I used to use. He said that people with repetitive iritis have the best results with it and that you have to get the brand name, not the generic. One of my other doctors had told me the same thing but I had forgotten. He was correct and I did get better. The newbie was just going by the book and experience is crutial.

[Mike Bartolatz]

Welcome to the group!
does your iritis occur in one eye, quiet down and then appear in your other? does it repeat this cycle?
this if often linked to the HLA B27 gene which can also cause forms of arthritis, psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis, irritable bowel disease- crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. sometimes use of an NSAID at prescription strength can get you to 'off all steroids without inflammation' breaking the recurrent nature of this beast called iritis/uveitis. here in the USA DR Foster uses Celebrex, Dolobid or Naproxen for six months to see if the recurrent nature can be stopped. if it does then he continues from the point where you are off all steroids without inflammation for an additional 2 years. for some reason the two year period is critical in stopping it. if it comes back then he goes to DMARD drugs alone or in combination with another medication if the DMARD drug alone can't achieve the goals.

there are several Uveitis specialists in Canada. I can suggest several of them for a consultation depending on where you are located.

long term recurrent inflammation can lead to additional problems with the eyes. cataracts, glaucoma, cystoid macular edema, detached retina's and bleeding inside the eyes can cause permanent loss of vision. steroids can also lead to cataracts and glaucoma. for this reason the international uveitis society recommends a steroid sparing approach to treatment.

wishing you the very best,
Mike