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Eye Care Archive (Expert Forum)
Autoimmune disease symptoms like alopecia and blurred vision
Our Ask A Doctor Ophthalmology Forum is where you can post your question and receive a personal answer from physicians affiliated with the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Autoimmune disease symptoms like alopecia and blurred vision
by Burty, May 20, 2007 12:00AM
About 10 months ago, out of nowhere, I started having problems with alopecia areata (barbea). After several tests no diseases were found and treatment with costicosteroids (injected and topical) started (o treat symptoms only). However, now I start developing blurred vision and sometimes a bit 'warm' feeling in my left eye. A specialist diagnosed it as floaters (I read about this now), but I do fear it might have to do with the alopecia, since after all this is a symptom of an autoimmune disease which is also known to affect eyes.
My question: are you aware of any link between autoimmune disease symptoms like alopecia areata and other symptoms of the autoimmune system attacking the eye? In other words: can the two above described problems bne related, i.e. be traced back to one and the same cause: an autoimmune disease
Other question: can treatment with costicosteroids in the chin and eyebrows areas cause blurred vision?
Thanks for your answers!
B
My question: are you aware of any link between autoimmune disease symptoms like alopecia areata and other symptoms of the autoimmune system attacking the eye? In other words: can the two above described problems bne related, i.e. be traced back to one and the same cause: an autoimmune disease
Other question: can treatment with costicosteroids in the chin and eyebrows areas cause blurred vision?
Thanks for your answers!
B
Doctor's Answer
by Forum-OD-MP, May 21, 2007 12:00AM
well, yes there is a possibility those 2 are related. many autoimmune diseases affect the eye and vision.
the big 2 things we worry about with steroid use as far as the eyes are concerned are:
1) steroid induced glaucoma: this would be raised intraocular pressure from the steroids. it is potentially blinding, but not related to floaters. your 'specialist' has probably already ruled this out (assuming its an optometrist or ophthalmologist).
2) cataracts: steroids can and do cause increased incidence and progression of cataracts. again, this is not something any eye doctor would miss.
so yes, steroid use of any kind can and does cause blurred vision. but if you have already been to the eye doctor and they said your symptoms were due to 'floaters', then they have most likely already ruled out more serious conditions like glaucoma and cataracts
the big 2 things we worry about with steroid use as far as the eyes are concerned are:
1) steroid induced glaucoma: this would be raised intraocular pressure from the steroids. it is potentially blinding, but not related to floaters. your 'specialist' has probably already ruled this out (assuming its an optometrist or ophthalmologist).
2) cataracts: steroids can and do cause increased incidence and progression of cataracts. again, this is not something any eye doctor would miss.
so yes, steroid use of any kind can and does cause blurred vision. but if you have already been to the eye doctor and they said your symptoms were due to 'floaters', then they have most likely already ruled out more serious conditions like glaucoma and cataracts
Member Comments
by bellypincher, Nov 29, 2008 08:49AM
A related discussion, autoimmune and stomach ache was started.
