Uveitis relief

[Kaff83]

I was diagnosed with a first episode of uveitis a week ago and have been on a course of steroid drops and dilating eye drops since. FU with opthamologist yesterday who said it looked better, from 3+ to 2+. From my end, the pain is much better, and the redness and photophobia are a bit better, blurry vision very slightly better; however, my eye is now so so itchy/irritable that I can barely keep it open. Any tips for relieving this as it's very annoying - it feels like I've permanently got something in it. It seems to be worse in the mornings. I've got some saline drops that I'm using ad hoc (more than 5 minutes after any of my treatments) that help a little, and a warm flannel is helping a bit too. Anything else anyone would recommend to help?

I am HLAB27 +ve, have psoriasis and rheum has previously queried AS, so I suspect this won't be my only episode. I already take methotrexate for the psoriasis but believe this will be reviewed now I've got uveitis.

I get recurrent uveitis (also HLAB27+) and am having a flare up at the moment. Now you know the symptoms you'll be able to get to eye casualty quickly next time so it doesn't get as bad. All I can recommend is continuing saline eye drops (I actually find the dry eye gel better) and making sure you use them frequently. You can also use a heated eye mask rather than the flannel. Did you also get the dilating eye drops? I find that helps with the pain.

@FlatStanley50 yes I have dilating drops too. I ordered an eye mask yday which has now arrived so that has helped a bit. Will try the dry eye gel.

I did recognise symptoms quickly but challenge was getting someone to see me as it was the weekend. I think they would listen better next time as I'll have had it before - one of the staff I ended up seeing just kept telling me it wasn't likely as I haven't had it before!

Ah yes mine pretty much always guaranteed to start over the weekend. See also Christmas and Easter! It’s a pain. I call them up and tell them I’m a regular and am having a flare up of uveitis and still have to go through rigmarole of explaining symptoms etc. Gets boring hanging around at eye casualty quite quickly. I wish they’d give me a stash of the maxidex. Sometimes I do manage to stash one away to take on holiday as I have the fear of it flaring up when I’m away and nowhere near an eye hospital. You may get lucky and have it be a one off - my sister has only ever had it once. Mine flares up every few months.