New to Uveitis/Iritis and Feeling Overwhelmed

[bbkstpete]

Hello,

My name is Brian from St. Petersburg, FL. I've read through the General Discussion and I'm aware that my case is similar to some of the others discussed on the site, but I'm posting anyway since I'm feeling overwhelmed by my blurry vision. I'll try to keep it short.

I'm 59 and had my first flare-up of iritis two months ago. The iritis appeared in my right eye first then the left eye. I was treated with Durezol by my optometrist. This seemed to help somewhat, but I can't recall for certain if the vision improved. The optometrist said that there were less proteins visible in the cornea. Sorry I can't be more specific, but she was observing the surface of the eye. She also noticed a floater in the right eye outside the center of vision. I was on Durezol 4x daily, then decreased to once a day.

On July 18, I had a post-vitreous detachment in the right eye and the floater came into my line of sight. There was flashing as well. I was referred to a general opthamologist. He examined the retinas of both eyes and found no tearing or damage. He said the inflammation was mostly cleared up, but I still had blurry vision in the right eye.

Aug. 4. General opthamologist saw inflammation. He put me on PredForte 4x daily. I've read on the site that the bottle has to be shaken for 3 minutes before application, however, I've shaken it for only a few seconds. Did that decrease the effectiveness of the medication? He also advised me to stop smoking.

Aug. 12. No improvement. General opthamologist on travel. Saw Dr. Jonathan Mines, specialist in uveitis and ocular immunology. He said the "gel" or vitreous is the main culprit, not so much uveitis. I'm not sure what this means now, but didn't ask him at the time. He gave me a steroid injection in the right eye. (I didn't ask what steroid it was or whether it was long- or short-acting.) He told me the shot should clear it up in a week. Advised me to continue the PredForte for another 2 days. He said he was "very confident" the injection would work. He didn't see as bad a case in the left eye, and didn't want to do an injection there (I'm glad he didn't).

The same day: Severe redness. Fluid accumulating on lower lid of right eye. Called the office and got a technician. (All these opthos have technicians who field the calls from patients.) Tech said redness should clear up by the next day. It didn't. By the next day, a bloody looking patch appeared in the upper hemisphere (where the injection was done). Called the office, was told by a different tech that the doc had nicked a blood vessel; it would take 7 to 10 days to be absorbed.

Where I am now:

1. Right eye: No improvement to vision, and it's been 5 days since the injection. Vision is blurry. I don't have confidence it will magically be better by Tuesday (7 days). Bloody looking patch has stopped spreading, and seems to have faded, but just a little.
3. Left eye: When reading, especially on the computer screen, I have a narrow focus on clear vision through my glasses. I have to move my head to follow the line. Outside that narrow focus, the vision is blurry. I can read road signs and see long distance pretty clearly in the left eye.
4. I've stopped smoking. Haven't had a cigarette in three days. I'm on the nicotine patch.
5. Tests ordered by Dr. Mines: T Palladium (he asked about syphilis), BRL serum (google search turns up nothing), HLA B27. I see a rheumatologist. (Long story, was concerned I had arthritis.) Previous tests done as part of general work-up: Rheumatoid factor in normal range, ANA negative, ESR (sed rate) only +1. Rheumatologist doesn't think I've got an autoimmune disease or rheumatoid arthritis. New tests ordered by rheumatologist: C-reative protein, hepatitis, TB.

I have a follow-up appt with Dr. Mines in 9 days. Don't see rheumatologist for a month. (X-rays showed no joint problems in knees, just a couple of small osteoarthritic bone spurs. Nothing in hip, left elbow has very small bone spur. So this is a relief.)

But I'm very worried about my vision. Like a lot of people, my job depends on me reading a computer screen all day, and it's very difficult. Comments welcome. Thanks for your time. This is an informative site (and scary too). Am I on the right track with my therapy?

[Mike Bartolatz]

first comment, go to Bascom Palmer in Miami and see either DR Janet Davis or DR Victor Perez, contact information at http://www.uveitis.org PATIENT information section of the site, they are the BEST Ocular immunologists in Florida and they will do a better job for you, enough said.

at your age it is often rare to develop uveitis unless there is a systemic cause whether that is from an autoimmune or inflammatory disease process or cancer etc. bilateral uveitis right off the bat is also unusual. you need the best doctors you can have at your age Sir.

eyelid bulging was the steroid implanted there from the injection. rarely do they inject steroid right into the vitreous early on in treatment because it can cause the problem of glaucoma. if peripheral vision is an issue it could be caused from glaucoma so get your pressure inside your eyes checked immediately so that pressure lowering drops can be used.

flashers are common with detaching vitreous membrane which occurs at about your age in all of us. it can also be a symptom of a detaching retina so it should be monitored by the ophthalmologist periodically. I encourage you to see one of the above experts as soon as possible BTW.

sorry it took so long to post. I have been getting a message saying the site is down so I until now I haven't been able to see the site when I enter the link in my computer. I got a private message from a member and responded to him and just now found it possible to see the site and respond.

wishing you the very best,
Mike Bartolatz