Question:

Hello all, Well, I broke my glasses.  I scheduled an exam; I’m due for one anyway. I know there are eye problems associated with lupus and secondary Sjogrens, and I have been having problems for months.  Does anyone recall being told by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist that they might have lupus from results of an eye exam? I had a detached left retina and torn right retina in 1996.  No explanation was ever given, other than severe nearsightedness.  However, over the past few months, I have been experiencing dry, tired eyes. This will sound weird, but even when my eyes are closed, they don’t feel right.  I’m constantly blinking, even when my eyes are shut. They never feel "rested". Thanks, Wes

Response:

Never told I had lupus from eye exam, but there is a test that the eye doc can do to confirm an auto immune disease.  It is sjogren’s or called dry eyes. When I first got sick, I was sent to a opthamologist to check for this.  So as far a diagnosis of lupus, I don’t think so, but you sure can tell the sjogren’s and also cataracts which is a side effect of use of cortisone. So an annual eye exam is a necessity. janers

Response:

<< I know there are eye problems associated with lupus and secondary Sjogrens, and I have been having problems for months.  Does anyone recall being told by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist that they might have lupus from results of an eye exam?

They can’t, as far as I know, tell whether you have lupus from an eye exam. They can, however, tell that you may have an autoimmune disorder, possibly lupus or something related such as if they happen to discover episcleritis, scleritis or uveitis.  The latter two are potentially dangerous and can threaten eyesight, so it’s important to treat these conditions.  The first, episcleritis, isn’t serious but can become serious if it progresses to scleritis. They might also be led to suspect an autoimmune related eye problem if your eyes are very dry (esp. common with Sjogren’s syndrome).  If they’ve found anything like this with your eyes, then you need to be following up with a ophthalmologist (not optometrist) experienced with autoimmune eye diseases. You’ll often find such people associated with major research institutions.  If you have dry eyes, BTW, you’ll need a full dry eye workup to see how serious it is and whether your cornea is damaged. Sandra

Response:

Hi Sandra, I already see two different ophthalmologists, one for general eye health, and the other specifically for retinal problems.  Neither doctor has ever told me that my eyes were dry.  They both perform thorough exams, so I guess Sjogren’s isn’t my problem, thank goodness.  How can I  possibly find an ophthalmologist who specializes in autoimmune diseases when I can’t even find a rheumy who knows what he’s doing? Wes – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -SCroyle909 wrote:

They can’t, as far as I know, tell whether you have lupus from an eye exam. They can, however, tell that you may have an autoimmune disorder, possibly lupus or something related such as if they happen to discover episcleritis, scleritis or uveitis.  The latter two are potentially dangerous and can threaten eyesight, so it’s important to treat these conditions.  The first, episcleritis, isn’t serious but can become serious if it progresses to scleritis. They might also be led to suspect an autoimmune related eye problem if your eyes are very dry (esp. common with Sjogren’s syndrome).  If they’ve found anything like this with your eyes, then you need to be following up with a ophthalmologist (not optometrist) experienced with autoimmune eye diseases. You’ll often find such people associated with major research institutions.  If you have dry eyes, BTW, you’ll need a full dry eye workup to see how serious it is and whether your cornea is damaged. Sandra

Response:

<<I already see two different ophthalmologists, one for general eye health, and the other specifically for retinal problems.  Neither doctor has ever told me that my eyes were dry.

Then they may not be; however, I have to tell you that before we found out my son’s eyes were so dry, an ophthalmologist swore up and down they were fine. Nevertheless, I got him a referral to NIH very much against that ophthalmologist’s objects, and sure enough they were extremely dry.  You couldn’t necessarily tell just by looking at them though.  I guess it’s partly that the level of dryness can vary somewhat, and also that it’s not necessarily obvious to the naked eye.  It showed up very well though in the Schirmers testing.  Therefore, if there’s any doubt at all as to whether you have dry eyes or not, why not ask for them to do the Schirmer’s test next time you’re there?  It’s very simple and takes only five minutes.  It simply involves putting a strip of paper under the eyelid for five minuntes.  Ideally they should do this twice, once without anesthetic eye drops and once with.  The technicians generally do the test, BTW. << How can I  possibly find an ophthalmologist who specializes in autoimmune diseases when I can’t even find a rheumy who knows what he’s doing?

If you have a major university with a medical school attached and research facilities, you might try there.   Sandra

Response:

I had this exact test done and I did have dry eyes moderately dry  I also have cararacts from pred. so it feels as if they are dry and im looking through water battles at same time. I use moisture drops as much as i need to daily and has made a huge differance. Cindy

Response:

In article <3B17D7C2.6FE10…@microconnect.net

, John W. Johnston, Jr.

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wrote Hi Sandra, I already see two different ophthalmologists, one for general eye health, and the other specifically for retinal problems.  Neither doctor has ever told me that my eyes were dry.  They both perform thorough exams, so I guess Sjogren’s isn’t my problem, thank goodness.  

Did they do a "Schirmer test", which is basically putting blotting paper in your eye and seeing how wet it gets?

How can I  possibly find an ophthalmologist who specializes in autoimmune diseases when I can’t even find a rheumy who knows what he’s doing?

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— Andy For Austrian philately <URL: http://www.kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk/austamps/

For Lupus <URL: http://www.kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk/lupus/

For my other interests <URL: http://www.kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk/

Response:

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