continued eye discomfort

[D Drenth]

I am new to this forum, was diagnosed with severe anterior uveitis the first of September. This would be my second bout with it, as I had the same thing 20 years prior. In the beginning I was diagnosed correctly at the ER, but then misdiagnosed and treated incorrectly at an opthamalogist, who told me to stop dilation drops, because he did not see any "cells". Three days later I was really in trouble with my left eye, terrible pain and barely able to see out of that eye. Anyway, long story short saw my pcp referred me to someone who was able to diagnose me correctly and treat me appropriately.

I was treated with prednisolone drops and eye dilitation for 2 months; and the opthamalogist indicated all inflammation was gone. I have lost some of my peripheral vision in my left eye, and have a cataract that will need to be removed in 4 months, as I am not able to drive at night and have problems in the sunlight, etc. I had told the doctor that I still have some eye pain, kind of like a dull pain in the eye socket, and he doesn't know why. I have had blood testing for different things, and all came back normal. Also, in the very beginning I had brain scan, and orbital scan, sinuses, etc. and all of that was normal.

My question is that I just don't feel that everything is right, I still have the dull pain, sort of like a headache in my eye is the best I can describe it, and my vision is sometimes cloudier at times and then goes away. Just wondering what could be causing this, because I don't think cataracts are supposed to cause discomfort. My first bout with iritis 20 years ago I don't remember having this problem. Has anyone else experienced this?

[Mike Bartolatz]

Donna, it is time to get an Ocular immunologist on your team of doctors to figure this out. pain inside the eye though usually caused by cilary body spasm related to an adhered iris to the lens, can also be linked to optic neuritis. pain behind the eye can be from posterior scleritis, thyroid eye disease, and mass growing on the eye or behind the eye.
vision that blurs like you mention can be from optic neuritis, cystoid macular edema as well as uveitis. ifyou have dry eyes, a transcient blur of vision can occur when the eye is rehydrated and it returns to normal. try putting in a lubricating eyedrop to see if it helps but do this at about 10 minutes after putting in any other prescription meds. Oclude the punctum too by pressing in over the inside corner of the eye preventing the medications from going down the drain. wait at least 5 minutes between drops too so that each can be absorbed before the next is instilled.

the specialist list can be found at http://www.uveitis.org in the PATIENT information section of the site On the various specialist lists. with your glaucoma causing the loss of peripheral vision, you need a steroid sparing approach to treatment in place. although testing in the Past was negative, it might be positive now for various inflammatory disease processes. it can take a decade or more for some of them to actually present in your blood.

tell me where you live and I'll suggest the best specialist near you. as with everything, experience makes a lot of difference in getting you to durable remission.

wish you the best,
Mike

[D Drenth]

Mike,
Thanks for your reply. I live in Plainfield, Illinois, if you can suggest a specialist who might be able to further help me with finding out the cause of my continued eye discomfort.
Donna

[Mike Bartolatz]

Anthony Ekong, M.D.
Illinois Retina Institute website
5016 N. University Dr. Ste 106 Peoria IL 61614
Tel: 309-589-1880 | Fax: 309-589-1885
3602 Marquette Rd Peru IL 61354
Tel: 815-223-7400 | Fax: 815-223-7477
3315 N. Seminary St Galesburg IL 61401
Tel: 877-223-7403 Email

this doctor studied under Dr Foster at Harvard, the top ocular immunologist in the World. Hopefully he can figure this out and get you a treatment designed to get you to remission.

wish you the best,
Mike