Bloody eye whites - prednisone?

Posted , 7 users are following.

Every few weeks I have what I assume are broken capilaries in my eyes. It happens to one eye at a time, one eye more than the other. I saw my eye doctor. He said not to worry unless the bleeding came out of the eye. I've had GCA for seven years and PMR. My pred has been as high as 80 mg. I'm now on 7.5 mg. pred with MTX and Actemra. This morning I look like I'm ready for a horror movie. Does anyone else have this?

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Posted

    I've had the red eye thang for a while. I still get it but couldn't say that it is any worse now than before, maybe after a while (I've been on pred for 8 months) I'll know more. Sorry I can't be more help but it is like a horror movie isn't it.

  • Posted

    Jan,

    I have had this happen to me independent from PMR or prednisone -- it happens to me about once a year.  Awful looking, but not dangerous (according to my opthamologist).

    What was new, for me, was a high in internal eye pressure reading (which can lead to glaucoma).  My research suggests that long time use of prednisone might be a contributor.

  • Posted

    I've never had it but MrsO of this forum did I believe while she was on pred.

    I've just looked up Actrema and a drug data list site says:

    "Some of the side effects that can occur with tocilizumab may not need medical attention. As your body adjusts to the medicine during treatment these side effects may go away. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to reduce or prevent some of these side effects. If any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome or if you have any questions about them, check with your health care professional: ...

    and under "Less common" includes "bloody eye"

    Bleeding in various parts of the body is also mentioned - dark tarry stools, bloody urine, bleeding gums, coughing/spitting up blood and bleeding after passing stools.

    So maybe a combination of the two?

    • Posted

      Boy that sounds like fun! I start Actrema in a couple of months - can hardly wait. not.
    • Posted

      Flip, I don't seem to have any side effects from the Actemra. Good luck to you with it.

      The red eye whites with my green eyes might be in fashion for Christmas. By the way, what are you wearing in your posted picture? Maybe I should put one on in my clown costume? Can't get enough smiles. Jan

    • Posted

      Eileen, Thanks for checking on the Actemra side effects. This bloody eye thing started before I started on the Actemra. Fortunately I don't have any of the other bleeding problems you mentioned. I do bruise more easily but can't complain compaired to my neighbor. He develops large dark purple bruises with his PMR and pred. Jan

    • Posted

      I've never had bruising due to pred - not even with being on warfarin as well. But I started a new generation anticoagulant just before we went on holiday - I had the most AMAZING bruises! I reduced the effective dose by taking the pills every 16 hours instead of every 12 for a while and the bruises finally faded - one really was black, the others were sort of normal bruises! However, I'm back on 12 hour gaps now and am not bruising so far - so maybe it was just my body needed to get used to it.

      Flip - the bleeding problems mostly come under very rare side effects...

    • Posted

      Flip - they're rare side effects!

      I'm on a new generation anticoagulant - the first few weeks I had horrendous bruises and I'd never had problems with even pred and warfarin together! They were himdingers some of them - but it seems to have stopped now. Maybe my body had to get used to the stuff...

    • Posted

      That was taken at a photo booth at the work Xmas party a couple of years ago.... a bright moment in an otherwise tedius lunch... lol
  • Posted

    I've had this to some extent for years, much worse since starting pred (moderate to low dose for PMR) and even at very low dose still happening.  Eye doctor told me to use artificial tears and oddly it seems to help clear up the redness much faster.  I get the kind with no preservatives, comes in little plastic droppers good for one day.  Very environmentally unfriendly, but needs must.

    • Posted

      I've been using eye drops for quite awhile. I have dry eyes which makes them water more. Go figure. My eye doc put me on drops a few years ago. He gave me samples from a number of companies. I'm probably not using them as often as I could but I haven't had change with them. My bloody areas are really red not just lines like one would get from irritation or allergies.

    • Posted

      Yes, I know what you mean.  Sometimes I get a feeling like there's something in my eye and when I look in the mirror later I see that I've had another burst blood vessel.  The drops do help clear it up much more quickly and without the yellowing which otherwise seems to follow, like in a bruise.

    • Posted

      Watering eyes in dry eye syndrome is because your eyes produce large amounts of thin tears to try to make up for the lack of the proper viscous tears you would normally produce - tears are essential to keep the surface of the eye moist and protect it from damage.
  • Posted

    I had this near the beginning and agree about how it looks. I have eye drops for hay fever. I don't know if that helps but haven't had the problem for a long time now. I have PMR and not GCA so don't know if that makes a difference.

  • Posted

    Yes! I've had about 5-6 episodes since starting on pred. My GP said the same thing.

    I kinda like it as it's a visible reminder to Mr Flip that I am, indeed, sick! lol

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