Just a thought

blackeye · Post by **blackeye** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:55 pm

I'm just coming to the end of another bout with iritis (my second over the past eight months). I noticed that my eye seemed to feel the worst when I first woke up in the morning, particularly those mornings that my sinuses felt very dry. I have had a problem with dry sinuses for most of my life (I'm 43 in Feb) and this has got me wondering how many other iritis sufferers also have sinus dryness.
I don't belive that this could be a cause. Just possibly a common problem among sufferers, that if kept in check might reduce flare-ups.
I believe that in my case flareups are usually the result of overwork or stress and the fact that my profession means that I spend at least eight hours a day in front of a computer screen.

S.Black

Mike Bartolatz · Post by **Mike Bartolatz** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 3:06 pm

many of us have Sinusitis along with very dry nasal passages. this should be indicated to your opthalmologist and your PCP. other dryness issues of dry eyes, dry mouth, Dry Skin and parotid gland swelling (just behind your jaw and below your ears) can be related to Sjogren's syndrome. Women have vaginal dryness too.
Wish you the best,
Mike

susandea · Post by **susandea** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:32 pm

This is very interesting. I have had dryness lately in my sinuses and very dry skin. I was also wondering if there was any link to my uvietis. I will be mentioning this to my doctors.

Thanks for the thought.
Susan

blackeye · Post by **blackeye** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 9:39 am

I just visited my opthamolagist today and he told me that sometimes iritis will clear up on its own (no more flare ups). The damage cannot be reversed though. I had never heard this before. If it's true, that would be something to hope for.
I forgot to ask him about the dryness. My flare up has once again subsided (along with my workload) so I won't be seeing him again for some time, but I do have an appointment with an eye surgeon in March. I'll ask him what he thinks.

s.black

Mike Bartolatz · Post by **Mike Bartolatz** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 10:17 am

yes it can go away but for those with repetative flares it doesn't until one is much older. the statistics show that just as many individuals in their 60's get uveitis as do those in their twenties and thirties. Uveitis specialists know this but most opthalomologists are taught dogma from the 60's in general opthalmology medical schools. each time you get uveitis structures within the eye are damaged and eventually cataracts and glaucoma ensue, other things like cystoid macular edema and epiretinal membranes along with detached retina and vascularization of the retina can also occur. it is impossible to tell who will proceed on to these changes within the eye.

wish you the very best,
Mike