Hello, new here

[abryant0822]

My name is Alyssa and I am from Texas. My eye issues started when I became allergic to my contact lens solution. I had one red spot on my eye and was told that's what it was and was given eye drops with anti-biotics/steroids together. I was told to them them 3 times a day for 3 days and then stop. As soon as I stopped, the iritis began. I presented with new symptoms, my whole eye was red and I could not stand light. After a few months of a different optometrist treating it (I switched because I was and still am convinced that the first doctor who told me to abruptly stop steroids is the one who caused it), I was referred to an ophthalmologist. I am about to have blood tests done including ANA and HLA-B27 and sed rate. I am almost hoping that something comes up in my labs so that there is an explanation as to why this keeps coming back after I taper off steroids. My ophthalmologist is awesome. He knew which labs to try when the steroids weren't working and he is considering sending me to a specialist in a bigger city who has had fellowship training. I recently had another flare up and am going to do a very very long taper, for at least 3 or months. The other tapers were a little faster so he is optimistic that it will work and also that my labs will come back clean. I think seeing a specialist would be best if this round of steroids doesn't work and my labs come back clean so I am prepared for that. I am lucky to have found an ophthalmologist who knows what to do and also when it would be better for his patients to see someone else. I am also lucky I have not had further complications such as cataracts or glaucoma. Insurance problems and finding the time working at a hospital in patient care to do eye drops every hour is difficult. I am hoping that by the time I graduate from nursing school this will all be over. One question that has been on my mind is what is the success rate with only using steroids and dilating drops? Are systemic immunosuppresants only necessary when there is an underlying condition? I am only in the process of being tested for other conditions so I don't know if I do or not yet.

I am so glad to have found this site and found some support from people who have been through this too! Best of luck to everyone.

[Mike Bartolatz]

Alyssa, welcome to the group (that's my grand daughters' name BTW)
if this is in ONE EYE only, and if the pressure inside the eye is way up with a lot of adhesion between the iris and the lens. it MIGHT be a virus 0f the herpes family such as herpes Sx or Herpes zoster ( do you have cold sores on your mouth or nose?)
do you have a history of urinary tract infections? if so explore TINU as a cause ( occurs in women your age) this is inflammation of the kidneys and uveitis.

throw out your current contact case. replace it every three months. also throw away any used wetting solutions etc after 90 days. change contacts frequently.
do you also have dry eyes? did they tell you what the lesion on your eye was? there are many different ones and some are related to various conditions.
you live in the southwest of the USA, have you ever had VAlley Fever?
have you been around animals?
dogs or cats with worms?
horses or other cattle?
have you been around anyone with Tuberculosis?
do any of your family members have a history of arthritis, skin rashes, Multiple sclerosis or other Central nervous system problems? do you have any of these things going on?

wish you the best,
mike