first time

[kristihart]

Hi,

I'm currently dealing with Iritis for the first time. It started with a bad headache and a sinus infection. I had no idea that Iritis was causing the severe pain and redness around my eye because I did have a sinus infection simultaneously. After two days of antibiotics and no improvement to my eye/headaches/photophobia, I called my family doctor and asked for an oral steroid because it has helped with previous sinusitis or bronchitis. I tend to have sinus problems in the spring and fall due to allergies. The steroids helped enough that I returned to work, but some redness remained and I had blurred vision in that eye. I again called the dr and reported my problem and they advised seeing my eye dr. The Optometrist diagnosed Iritis, prescribed steroid drops, and referred me to an Ophthalmologist. My optometrist asked questions about my frequent lower back pain and mentioned that I should follow up with my family doctor for Ankylosing spondylitis. I reported this to the Ophthalmologist who prescribed a stronger steroid eye drop and ordered an in office blood test for Sjorgren's Syndrome. I went back 5 days later and not much improvement so I am not also prescribed dilating drops and told to come back in 10 days. It appears that my Iris stuck to my lens, and the Ophthalmologist is hoping dilating drops help that problem. Anyway, thanks for this site, it is helpful to a person just learning about this disease and dealing with it.

[Mike Bartolatz]

welcome to the group! have you ever been tested for sarcoidosis with the lung and sinus involvement? any lung xrays for example? hopefully the dilating drop will break the adhesion between your iris and lens and that this will calm down quickly for you. if this returns please consider seeing an expert uveitis specialist. a list of specialists is at http://www.uveitis.org PATIENT information section of the site.

please join us in our general discussion forum where I can answer questions and provide information for you. you must have dry eyes and dry mouth for a diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome. a biopsy of a salivary gland or a conjuntival biopsy can determine the cause of the dry eyes and dry mouth. Sarcoidosis can also have these symptoms.

wish you the very best,
Mike