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Arthritis is commonly associated with joint pain and stiffness, but many people don’t realize that arthritis can also affect eye health. Certain types of arthritis—especially autoimmune forms like rheumatoid arthritis—can cause inflammation that leads to dry eye disease, uveitis, and scleritis. Early detection is critical to preventing vision complications.
Arthritis is a broad term used to describe joint pain and inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition, occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, triggering widespread inflammation that can impact organs beyond the joints—including the eyes.
These conditions may include:
One of the most common eye conditions associated with arthritis is dry eye disease. Inflammation can disrupt tear production, causing:
If untreated, severe dry eye can increase the risk of infection and corneal scarring.
Scleritis is inflammation of the sclera (the white of the eye). It is often linked to autoimmune arthritis and may cause:
Scleritis requires prompt medical treatment to prevent vision loss.
Uveitis is inflammation of the uveal tract—the pigmented tissue between the retina and sclera. Symptoms include:
In some cases, uveitis may be the first sign of an underlying rheumatologic condition.
"Your eye doctor will need to determine the extent of the eye inflammation with in-office testing, usually with a device such as a slit lamp," CEENTA ophthalmologist Sumit Gupta, MD, says. "An eye doctor may order additional laboratory testing to rule out systemic inflammatory disease states like rheumatoid arthritis."
Treatments may include:
Early intervention significantly improves outcomes.
Your doctor may prescribe artificial tears and anti-inflammatory drops for dry eye disease. Sometimes topical and/or oral steroids are required to help deal with inflammation related to more severe diseases. That said, steroids treatment requires monitoring for cataracts and glaucoma. If that happens, you may need additional treatment to manage those conditions.
The eye doctors at CEENTA are happy to treat you no matter how old you are. If you find arthritis is affecting you and want your eyes examined, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with Dr. Gupta at CEENTA University today.
This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor.
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