How does rheumatoid arthritis affect the eyes?

Answer 1

Vision can can be effected as a result of a number of problems associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Scleritis, a chronic inflammation of the blood vessels in the whites of the eyes, may occur in aproximately 1 percent of people with RA. Symptoms include eye pain and redness. If it goes untreated, scleritis may become severe, leading to a deterioration of the cornea.

Rheumatoid Arthritis may lead to Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, which is dryness of the eyes caused by decreased tear production. as well as Episcleritis or scleritis, this is an inflammation of the connective tissue of the eye that gives it a red eye appearance like conjunctivitis, but different as there is no wetness or tearing.

These problems can be painful and lead to increased light sensitivity, redness, and even vision loss.

The eyes may often become dry and/or inflamed as a result of RA. This condition is known as Sjögren syndrome and its severity depends on which part of the eye is affected. this along with many other eye problems may be the result of rheumatoid arthritis and often require the attention of an eye specialist.

Answer 2

Exerpt taken from innvista.com/health/ailments/arthritis/arteyes.htm

Arthritis is usually thought of as a disease of the joints, only and rarely thought of as being a problem for the eyes. In some ways, the eyes have much in common with knees or other joints as both are relatively self-contained with definite boundaries or walls that create fluid-filled cavities, or spaces, of connective tissue. The eye's version of arthritis is called uveitis. Just as in many cases of arthritis, determining the cause of uveitis is baffling and frustrating.

Specifically, when an inflammation occurs in the iris, it is called iritis; when it strikes the ciliary body, it is called cyclitis; and if the choroid is targeted, the result is choroiditis, which is also known as posterior uveitis or simply "arthritis of the eye." If the inflammation affects two areas, the names are combined. For example,it is iridocyclitis (iris and ciliary body) or chorioretinitis (choroid and retina). If the entire eye is inflamed, it is called panuveitis. Such an inflammation can be blinding. While it generally strikes young or middle-aged adults, it can happen at any time in life. Anterior uveitis (iridocyclitis) is more painful than posterior uveitis. Symptoms of anterior uveitis include redness, light sensitivity, blurred vision, and extreme pain, especially when focusing on near objects. Usually a specific cause is not found. Go to related link below for more info

Answer 3

Yes Rheumatoid artritis can have an effect on the eyes.