I was diagnosed with acute iritis in my right eye last Thursday. Today is 8 days since that diagnosis and my vision has improved, then declined again. The fist couple of days on Lotemax drops every hour and Cyclogyl dilating drops 3x per day gave me lots of improvement. My vision was getting a lot better. Then I had a follow-up appointment and the doctor said I was doing great. The following two days took a turn backward...as of now my vision in the affected eye is totally clouded over and I am seeing kind of swirly floaters. My iris was stuck initially, but finally responded to dilating drops then seemed to stick in the dilatied position. I have another appointment today, and also made an appointment with a specialist from the list (Dr. Joan Lee in Freehold NJ). I have to wait one week to see the specialist though.
Could the floaters and vision decrease be result of the eye finally dilating...then staying in that position? This is all so new to me and I am very bewildered and confused as to what is going on.
The floaters are a sign of inflammation that is occurring in the eye. Same thing with the blurriness. I also think, depending on the drops, the medication impacts vision as well.
Yes, i think the dilating drops are making it impossible to tell the progress of the iritis itself. As long as your pupil looks dilated your vision is not going to be good. Plus dilating drops can remain in system days later. Glad you are seeing a specialist. Hang in there.
Yes you are exactly right, your eye can't focus with those drops in. They are needed though so your lens doesn't get stuck with all the sticky inflammation.
Do you think oral steroids would be warranted to make a quick impact in the inflammation? Seems like the Lotemax is not doing well with bringing it down. It did for a couple of days and then seemed to stop. I make sure that I am getting a full drop and gently hold the corner so as to stop drain. I am so paranoid of this happening to my good eye.
I think if the doctor sees posterior inflammation they may start oral steroids. If anterior only I am not sure. But, the fact that you have floaters suggests to me there may be posterior activity. The floaters are what I had as well...but both eyes.
But remember, as long as you are on thosee dilating drops you will definitely be blurry. But those are keeping the lens from sticking...so necessary.
Last edited by Hudsongrl on Fri Jan 15, 2016 11:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
One more thought...could you ask your doc for Durezol. It is really the eye drop of choice for iritis. I think you might have better luck with it than lotemax.
The appointment with doctor today showed an increase in pressure (it was 25)...and the inflammation has returned. One bit of good news is that my iris is free from being stuck to the lens. To help quiet the inflammation he prescribed prednisone oral 20mg 1x per day, and instructed to continue with the lotemax drops every hour. I have to see him again in 6 days. He also said to decrease the cyclogyl from 3x per day to only once, at bedtime.
I still have an appointment with the specialist on Friday.
Another question...my "good" eye seems to feel more sensitive to light now. I have read about consensual photophobia where the good eye also experiences sensitivity to light. Has anyone encountered this? Thanks!
Marilyn, good news the iris is unstuck and you can decrease dilating drops.
Also the oral prednisolone will help the inflammation. Just a tip...i couldn't tolerate the full dose all at once in the morning, so doc said I could split it... 10 mg morning and 10 mg. 6-8 hours later. You may be fine with one dose though. Just thought i'd mention it.
I bet within 4-5 days you see some improvement:) let us know.
Just to follow-up from the visit yesterday, doctor also said there is no inflammation in the other areas of the eye. So glad to hear that. I started the prednisolone yesterday so hopefully as you said I will see some improvement and gain back the vision in my eye. So frustrating because it feels like looking through wax paper in that eye
Although doctor said to do the dilating drops before bedtime, i didn't last night because he had just dilated them at afternoon visit. Will start tonight.
That's great back of eye looks good. I started out on 40 mg. prednisone for 7 days, then 20 mg for 7 days and then 15 mg. for 2 weeks and then a slow taper. I am on 10 mg. now snd will attempt 7.5 mg. next week. Hope to be off of it in 3-4 weeks
Thank you.