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Sjrogrens and Glaucoma

Posted , 7 users are following.

Mikki1220
Mikki1220

Before being diagosed with Sjrogrens, I was having blurry vision.  Then in August of 2016 was diagnosed with Sjrogrens and seeing lots of doctors.  Last night was my eye visit and my doc told me I now have Glaucoma.  My right eye is worse than the left and gave me Lumigan drops.  So does anyone else have Glaucoma and can I expect to get better or go blind?

1 like, 16 replies

16 Replies

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  • claire35092
    claire35092 Mikki1220

    Posted

    Hi there.

    I haven't actually been to the docs about my eye sight yet but I get blurry vision on a regular basis. It's like there's 'cotton wool' in the centre of it and I can't see a lot.

    Is this the symptoms you had?

    Can I ask a personal question? How old are you, if you don't mind me asking? I'm 33 and although I've had sjorgrens for years I was only formally diagnosed approaching 3 years ago.

    • Mikki1220
      Mikki1220 claire35092

      Posted

      Hi Claire.  I am 47.  My symptons are pressure in the eyes and massive blurry vision.  My right eye measures 20/80 which means on object that is 20 feet away from me seems like its 80 feet away.  My right eye is 20/40.  I feel like I am in a fish bowl all day or under water with my eyes opened.  Too bad I am not a fish.
    • lily65668
      lily65668 claire35092

      Posted

      Hi Claire, you really need to get your eyes checked asap. A central spot of blurring can be a serious symptom. If you're in the UK and can't get a referral to an ophthalmologist then you can always go and see a high street ophthalmic optician (roughly the same thing as a US optometrist). They can do a very thorough eye test and tell you if you need to see an opthalmologist.

    • shaq26875
      shaq26875 claire35092

      Posted

      Hi

      ​I had a grey spot in central vision of left eye, was told start of secondory cataract. Went to opthamologist 4 months later..arc of flashing light in right eye...had eye exam. ..post vitrous detachment , and eye test showed reading had got worse in left eye...also showed had secondary cataract in right eye now, also told have dry eyes and got punctal plugs..i still get the odd burning in eyes, pressure in left eye (feels i have to squeeze it ).Opthamologist checked me for aged macular degeneration (AMD) and had detailed tests ..all ok. initial  sign of AMD is a grey/black spot in central vision ..but i doubt at 33 u have that. The rheumatologist told me that on plaquenil eyes have to be tested every 3/4 months. (I am no longer on meds..personal choice)

    • claire35092
      claire35092 lily65668

      Posted

      Morning.

      Yes I will book this booked in. I'm actually due to see my rheumatologist so I will press her to get me in to the ophthalmologist. Thank you.

      I'm actually in the UK. My consultant did prescribe me some eye drops (not containing formaldehyde) but didn't feel they really helped with the dryness. Have you got any recommendations at all for a good eye drop?

    • claire35092
      claire35092 Mikki1220

      Posted

      Thank you for you reply.

      Ive definitely noticed a decline in my eye sight recently but I'm going to try and get in to see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible.

      Thank again.

    • lily65668
      lily65668 claire35092

      Posted

      Hi Claire,

      I'll send you a private message about the drops, as I'm not sure we're allowed to post brands on here.

      I really would urge you not to wait to see the ophthalmologist, but to get your eyes tested immediately by a high-street optician since you're in the UK. They can't treat you but they can pick up on anything seriously wrong and get you fast-tracked if necessary. It doesn't cost very much.

  • brenwag68
    brenwag68 Mikki1220

    Posted

    Hi... I don't have glaucoma, not yet anyway, but I do have cataracts (had them for 4years now) last year I went back to my optometrist because I thought for sure I needed new glasses or that my cataracts were worse & he said no, that my eyes are so dry, that it is effecting my eyesight... my eyes always feel like there is sand in them & my right eye swells & pains... my eyesight is bad & I cannot drive at night anymore... I hope things go well with you, I too am afraid of going blind... take care

    • Mikki1220
      Mikki1220 brenwag68

      Posted

      I have the beginning stages of cataracts and now the glaucoma.  they are dry but the Xiidra drops cause a severe eye infection in my left eye so had to stop that.  I do not drive at night any more or on really cloudy days. 
    • brenwag68
      brenwag68 Mikki1220

      Posted

      My optometrist gave Me fluorometholone to help with extreme dryness but I couldn't use it because it burned my eyes so badly... I just use restore daytime & nightime (which is so thick that you cannot see a thing, so I put it in before I go to bed)

    • lily65668
      lily65668 brenwag68

      Posted

      Dry eyes can seriously affect your eyesight, but it doesn't have to be permanent.

      I've had the beginnings of cataracts for 20 years now, but they've never advanced. On a routine visit to the optometrist a year or so ago I was told the sight in one eye had deteriorated so much I was now ready for cataract surgery. Since I was having a lot of problems with dryness in that eye I asked whether this could be causing the poor sight. He said definitely not, but suggested a different brand of eyedrops anyway.

      After six months of using these drops, I returned for another check-up. I was told my sight was absolutely fine again, and back to where it had been two years earlier. Dry eyes can cause so much blurring of vision, it's difficult to know what's going on.

      Obviously glaucoma is another matter, and requires specialised treatment.

    • brenwag68
      brenwag68 lily65668

      Posted

      Thank you... yes some days I see better than other days, because of the pilocarpine gives me more fluid... it is however a pain...
  • aitarg35939
    aitarg35939 Mikki1220

    Posted

    Hi Mikki

    I don't have glaucoma but it was rampant in my mom's family. There is often a hereditary factor in this disease. I'm in my early 60s & feel very fortunate not to have it.

    As to cataracts, I also feel lucky not to have those given how much of my life was spent outdoors, at the beach or pool much of the time all day, no sunglasses. My brother had cataract surgery in his 50s. I do now have the very beginnings but am told they're a long way off. There is a definite connection between sun time with unprotected eyes & cataracts, but there's also an age factor for both diseases.

    I need to go soon as I have a small blurry area in one eye. There's a Sjogren's eye specialist, 100 miles away. I'll get there one day#

  • lisalisa67
    lisalisa67 Mikki1220

    Posted

    I have optic nerve pallor in one eye. And it is so nerve racking for me to have dry eys, although also dry sinuses. Im using drops this whole thing is i overwhelming. No pity from anyone either.  The optic nerve diagnosis thru me in a whirl of anxiety before the whole dry eyes started.im only about five weeks in to trying to understand what my body is doing to me, and i dont know what to do myself. Too many stupid things going on so it's all giving me anxiety to be honest. I see the oothamologust every six months and usually twice around that for the dry eyes, i have no answers but share the same fears. Same fear. It deletes using a lot of meds too. Im 49 almost 50 but my body now thinks its 70. I blame menapuse personally i enetered it early.All they do for auto immune is steroids and meds that counteract with glaucoma or cataract. So unless science figure this out very fast im not sure how to exist properly. Noone wants to hear my fears either. Everyone says deal with and it can wax and wayne anyway. Flare ups calm down. I hate goigle its very negative making me negative. Im looking into alternatives but . They dint seem to have much either. Ugh you are not alone in this but I have no answers.my rhematoid said keep positive many times this remissions and my opthamologist said come in when ever i want and keep positive. I also get weird tinnitus at times. I seriously just keeo praying to be cured.

    My family lol they tell me not to talk about it and live. Which is rude it is  not comfortable.

    • brenwag68
      brenwag68 lisalisa67

      Posted

      Hi.... so sorry... I know it is so difficult, I too am 49 (this month) I was diagnosed with cataracts 4 years ago & my eyesight is very poor, sometimes I can see, others not... my health has deteriorated to the point where I no longer feel that I am myself... my mother had been very negative to me, she has had relatively good health so she did not understand, now she has multiple myeloma & all of a sudden I am suppose to feel sorry for her, so I understand how you feel, fortunately I have a very loving & understanding husband who is always there for me in my ups & downs (I could cry over how much love he shows, if I had tears 😌wink I have had several surgeries (which I believe is due to my autoimmune diseases), numerous illnesses & I am losing my teeth (my teeth are fine but the dryness is causing my roots to become exposed causing severe pain) I too was very negative but I work hard everyday thinking positively, it's hard but if not for this I would go mad.... my rheumatologist is a quack so I am looking for a new, I know at this point there probably is no cure so I need to stay focused & remain optimistic.... you are not alone dear friend.... take care of yourself....😙

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