Prolonged Cloudy Vision

[DAMNMS]

I'm HLA B27 positive and have been successfully treating my iritis for many years, but have recently noticed cloudiness in my right eye(most persistent eye) that hasn't subsided even though I don't have any other symptoms. My optometrist viewed my eye using a slip lamp and the cloudiness is either non existent or very slight. He's trying to treat it with non steroidal anti inflammatory drops, but it still persists. Do I need at attack it hard with durazol or should it eventually subside? I just don't want to wait to see if it goes away on its own and risk permanent damage. That being said, does the cloudiness in some instances never go away?

[Mike Bartolatz]

suggest you get beyond having an optometrist treating your uveitis and get to an expert, an uveitis specialist to get you off the steroids, Durezol etc as over time it can lead to glaucoma and cataracts. recurrent inflammation can also lead to cystoid macular edema, changes to the retina with new blood vessel growth that can cause detachment and bleeding inside the eye. optic neuritis can also occur.

the cloudy vision might be linked to a small cataract starting to form or opacification of the cornea etc. the retina needs to be examined with special testing that an optometrist doesn't have, an OCT scan or fluorescein angiography to see if changes are taking place that can explain this if there is no flare or cells present from inflammation. there is a list of uveitis specialists at http://www.uveitis.org PATIENT information section of the site on the Specialist lists.

wishing you the very best,
Mike

[DAMNMS]

Thanks Mike. I did a specialist a few times, but he is anti-NSAIDs or at least he was and that's why I was treating it the way I have been. I'm in MS and there aren't any physicians close to me and so I'm kind of stuck in that regard. I'm going back to the Specialist in 2 weeks so I'll be sure to have them run those tests. Hopefully it's something that can be corrected or will "heal" itself. Just frustrated.

[Mike Bartolatz]

the closest specialist to you that I would recommend is DR Russel Read at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.
because you have had uveitis so long, NSAIDs may not work for it. DMARD drugs are needed, drugs like Methotrexate, Cellcept or Imuran to stop the production of the white blood cells causing the inflammation inside your eyes. this is common treatment for forms of autoimmune arthritis, irritable bowel disease etc. by Rheumatologists. your form of uveitis linked to the HLA B27 gene is autoimmune.

wish you the very best,
Mike

[DAMNMS]

Dr. Read is who I've seen before and who I have an appointment with in 2 weeks. Hopefully he's more receptive to the use of DMARD drugs. Thanks again for your information and help. I'll keep you posted.

[Mike Bartolatz]

I hope so too, if not, then it is time to see someone else, perhaps in florida or in Nebraska.

mike