My History with Iritis

[northwest]

In the 1980's i wore soft contact lenses in high school. I always had problems with my eyes drying out and frequently used lubricating eye drops.
In the 1990's the discomfort bothered me so much, I pretty much just wore eyeglasses, but occasionally wore contacts when going out on special occasions. I also had a wife and kids, and their needs came first, so contact lenses and having to get new prescriptions for new ones for me came last.
In 1998, I got a better job, and about a year later with government health insurance, I went to get new contact lenses. After wearing them for a while, I had my first case of an infection which created halos around lights. When a pressure test was performed, the eye pressures were abnormally high. My optometrist thought that I may have had an allergic reaction to preservatives in the drops I used to lubricate my eyes and contacts. Soon, it happened again. I went through a bunch of tests, and as far as I can remember, my optometrist said that I may be on the early stages of glaucoma. I was sent to an ophthalmologist who gave me pred forte and I believe co-opt. I think that is when I was first diagnosed with iritis. This was the end of wearing contact lenses.
During the 2000's I would occasionally get an iritis infection. Usually the ophthalmologist would ask if I had been wielding or grinding metal or if something had gotten in my eye. I don't wield or work with a grinder. I'm not really sure if that is what it is, an infection, it was never very well explained to me by the ophthalmologist. All that was given to me were some pamphlets from the lobby about dry eyes, iritis, and glaucoma. I have never really understood how or why the pressure builds up from iritis...the pamphlets (as well as info on the internet) don't associate increased pressure with iritis. When I ask my ophthalmologist for more detailed answers, it is usually followed by something like "well, that is what these drops are going to take care of" or "after this surgery you won't need to worry about it anymore." I know that the doctor has other patients to see, but man, sometimes I wonder if he doesn't even know! This year, I was about to get laser iridotmy performed on my other eye. I had my records sent to another ophthalmologist, and asked that they delay the surgery until I had received a second opinion. A few days later, my ophthalmologist sent me a certified letter stating that he would no longer provide medical services to me, and that my charts were sent to the ophthalmologist I was going for a second opinion to.
I am currently being evaluated for glaucoma. Iritis has caused some problems at work because of occasionally having to take drops during work periods (in excess of taking them during breaks). When I do have these infections, they seem to worsen very quickly, and my ophthalmologist usually wants me to come in to see him either that day or the very next day.

ps. I also have asthma, and some (if not all - not sure) of the drops that lower the eye pressure have "beta-blockers" which my allergy doctor states is the reason I have increased asthma attacks when taking the drops.

[Mike Bartolatz]

I am saddened by the stupidity of your employer and your doctor. this is nonsense to say the least.
glaucoma can be from the iritis or it can be from the steroids used to treat it by ignorant doctors. I didn't say stupid as ignorant means uneducated. the cells can block the drains of the eye, the ANGLES or the trabecular meshwork. the steroids can also increase pressure in some people and this is why Educated doctors use a corticosteroid SPARING approach to treament of Uveitis. if you take steroids for the asthma, they can add to this problem. we need to get you to a doctor who knows about this stuff. an Ocular Immunologist. these are highly trained ophthalmologists who treat this stuff for a living, not allowing GLAUCOMA to occur in the first place or to allow cataracts to form from the steroids or the disease. over time other changes will occur inside your eyes. most often this is Cystoid macular edema, fluid build up under the central part of your retina that can cause permanent areas of loss of vision. blood vessels can grow much like in Diabetic retinopathy and they break and bleed into the eye. these dan also cause detachment of the retina. the high pressure takes out peripheral vison and damages the optic nerve. THESE THINGS ARE THE BLINDING CONSEQUENCES of under or improperly treated iritis.
have you ever been tested for CAUSE of your iritis? often GENETICS is the culprit especially if it is bilateral and you have lung involvement. a disease called SARCOIDOSIS also is linked to uveitis. it is FREQUENTLY mis diagnosed as asthma. other lung disease can cause this too, Systemic Sclerosis is one usually seen along with other forms of arthritis and vascular disease. Crohn's disease attacks the GI tract and can have lung involvement along with it. frequently the HLA B27 gene is linked to it and forms of arthritis other than rheumatoid arthritis. these include Ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, crohn's disease, REacative arthritis and ulcerative colitis. Iritis is a form of Uveitis called anterior uveitis. frequently this also causes problems in the middel and back of the eye. Depending on the cause, there are various treatments for this that can get you to DURABLE REMISSION.

tell me where you live and I will provide contact information for a REAL specialist that I know will be able to help you. not all doctors are created equal as you now know from your own experience. you will most like have to travel to get care from one of them but it will help prevent permanent loss of vision. if not and you continue down your current road, you will end up like me, Partially sighted because of steroids alone to treat this stuff. that's why this site is here, to PREVENT others from not getting care they deserve by REAL specialists.

there is a brochure in the Support group page of http://www.uveitis.org that you can download and print out in a PDF file. show this to your employer and give a copy to your ATTORNEY as you may need one to end the harrassment you are having at work. State agencies may provide some help too in getting the employer to lighten up. you fall under the American's with Disabilities Act and requre glaucoma drugs and Asthma drugs to live. start by calling the Equal Employment Opportunities commission as you fall under the ADA. then go to your State Department of Labor and Industries as well as to your state Attorney General's office. not taking your meds at required intervals is causing more problems but you need to get OFF ALL STEROIDS AND TO REMISSION. there are meds that can do this and you have to treat the underlying cause.
severe dry eyes is linked to Sarcoidosis and the other forms of arthritis mentioned above. it is also linked to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and To Sjogren's syndrome and there are medical blood tests for all of these things. getting the proper drugs used is critical here.

I hope this helps,
Mike