During the earlier part of this decade, I spoke to groups across the country to raise awareness about the seriousness of arthritis and related diseases. Each year, my fellow speakers and I would mix it up a bit, keeping a focus on the underlining message, while raising [in many cases] unheard of or uncommon secondary illnesses and side effects. The informative presentations often captured and kept the attention of our audiences. Many were new to the world of arthritis and had no real connection, but left holding on to what they learned.
One of the subjects raised was the affect arthritis can have on our eyes. This was the first time I’d heard of the link between arthritis and vision. Our presentation highlighted a teenage girl whose sight was taken away by arthritis leaving her with irreversible blindness. The reaction of those hearing this news for the first time was similar to mine, shock followed by immediate concern.
Two years ago, I noticed a change in my sight. It started with distant blurred vision that drastically increased over a short period of time. Blaming the change on typical excuses of being busy and stressed, I did not act on it immediately and dismissed it without regard to the possibility of being connected to my arthritis.
While on a relaxing vacation with my family, I began to recognize the drastic changes and rapid deterioration of my vision. It became more apparent when I noticed a daily decrease in my ability to see the map we used every day. After swapping contacts with glasses and allowing my eyes to rest, there was no improvement. Flashing back to the memory of the teenager, I looked at my own history and knew this had the potential of becoming serious.
Shortly after returning home, I scheduled an appointment for an eye exam with an optometrist. The doctor was extremely concerned and referred me to an ophthalmologist who specialized in arthritis-related diseases to the eyes.
The examination revealed my vision had drastically deteriorated over a two-month period and my left eye was on the borderline of being legally blind. At this point, my doctors were confident the disease was reversible with aggressive and consistent treatment, and predicted I would regain my sight within six months. Had I further postponed medical attention, passing it off as stress related or dismissing it because I was too busy, the damage could have been permanent.
Having the knowledge and being educated on eye diseases secondary to arthritis is only valuable when applied. Knowing what I knew about the brave teenager’s story should have raised red flags SOONER rather than later!
Experiencing the temporary loss of my own sight filled me with fear and will serve as a reminder to not only be aware of the changes in my body, but to take them seriously. I have the responsibility of being pro-active in my health, to take care of myself and communicate my concerns with my rheumatologist and the other health-care providers on my team.
Are you aware of the connection between arthritis and eyes? Have you been treated for vision problems related to arthritis? What was your diagnosis and how were you treated?
If you have been experiencing changes in your vision, it is important to seek medical attention from a doctor who has advanced training with eye diseases related to arthritis. This was a key factor in my diagnosis, treatment and future. I am truly grateful to the optometrist who recognized the connection and took the steps to maximize my care.
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