New Here

[yellwroztx]

Hello All
I am a 41 year old female and I was diagnosed with Iritis right after the New Year. I took myself to the emergency room because I was having intense pain, light sensitivity and redness in my left eye. The ER doc gave me Tobradex and told me to get to my eye doc immediately.
My eye doc put me on prednisone instead of the Tobradex and told me to come back in a week. Well, I didn't make a week as my right eye became inflammed within two days of the visit and my left eye had developed adhesions. This alarmed him so he also prescribed dilating drops and sent me to a retino-vitreous (sp) doc saying that having Iritis in both eyes seemed to suggest I may have an underlying health condition.
The specialist ran a few basic tests (as he called them); cbc, sed rate, rheumatoid factor and the test for Lupus (sorry, I forget what it was called). All these test came back normal and the second exam showed I was improving, so he didn't think more tests were needed at this time. He said to finish my regimine of drops and come back in after 1 week unless I had any other symptoms.
I have now been off the drops just over a week (my follow-up is Wednesday) and I am flaring up in both eyes again.
I have a couple of questions if this is the proper forum...
I have occular hypertension and a family history of glaucoma. Could this be the cause or result of Iritis?
I also have already had cataract surgery on my right eye, again, could this be the cause or result of Iritis?
In the experience of those here, is there some test or direction I should seek with the professionals to lessen the hit and miss testing that seems to be in my future?
I appreciate any and all input.
Thank you so much,
Dianna

[Mike Bartolatz]

Dianna,
recurrent or chronic iritis can be related to many things. the herpes simplex virus is often overlooked.
as to cataracts at the young age of 41, it is quite possible that you have had iritis in the past as cataract and glaucoma are consequences of the disease process. Since you have IOP, please watch this as steroids can also cause high IOP.
the inflammatory process can plug the angles of the meshwork that drains fluid from the eye. Some of the pressure drops can also contribute to higher IOP in Uveitis patients.

did the opthalomogist do a depressed scleral examination to rule out Intermediate uveitis/pars planitis??? pars planitis can have no symptoms of photophobia or red eye and this may have been present in you for many years and you wouldn't know it until the inflammatory process decided to also inflame the front part of the eye. that might explain the cataracts (subcapsular cataract) as well as the high IOP.

please get back to us and let us know how you are doing. read through the glossary at MEEI to aquaint yourself with terms the doctor will use. Read all the way through.

Wish you the best,
Sincerely,
Mike Bartolatz