episcleritis and autoimmune disease?

[michelleybee]

I was in tunisia in the second week of june and while i was there i started getting redness in my eye, this continued to get worse and by the first of july the white in the inner corner of the right eye was so inflamed that the surface was crinkling like cling film if i looked to the left. both eyes are painful, but the problem is mostly in the right one. I went to the eye infirmary where i was given predisol eye drops and viscotears gel. after taking the drops for a week the redness went down but the pain stayed. Then a week later the redness came back. since then i have been continuing the drops but my eyes are still very sore and the redness is still present particularly in the morning. it has been 7 weeks now with no sign of improvement. the surface is still crinkled and my eyes feel even more sensitive. The diagnoses has always been episcleritis but the optician is unsure as to why it is still there. i am seeing a specialist in two weeks.
i had swabs taken because i was on holiday and they were negative.
i am seeing orthopedics in two days because i have joint problems in my knees. because my eye has been bad for so long i was starting to think of the possibility of an underlying autoimmune disease.
i have suffered from problems such as severe stomach pains and knee joint trouble for many years now, also tiredness. i have started getting psoraisis lately as well. im just listing anything that could be related.
I would go see my own doctor but ive been so many times about the above ailments that i feel i am no longer taken seriously.
i hope someone can help!
michelle

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[michelleybee]

thank you! ill try and see someone sooner.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

You should see the ophthalmologist as soon as you can get in. In your case the episcleritis is possibly related to your other health problems. Many autoimmune disease cause episcleritis.

JCH MD