Is there actually rheumatism in the eye?
A red eye usually has a relatively harmless cause, such as bleeding under the conjunctiva or irritation. However, it can also be a symptom of a serious eye disease or a rheumatic condition that affects the whole body. Therefore, a Red eye that lasts longer than 48 hours must be examined by an ophthalmologist. should be consulted. If the ophthalmologist detects signs of inflammation of the vascular skin (uvea), he should ask about joint complaints, back pain or gastrointestinal complaints, because such uveitis is often a symptom of a rheumatic disease. It is not uncommon for ophthalmologists to be the first to make the suspected diagnosis of "rheumatism" due to uveitis, which should then be checked by rheumatologists. Close cooperation between ophthalmologists and rheumatologists helps not to lose time and to prevent further progression of the disease through the fastest possible therapy.
Rheumatism in the eye: Attack of the immune system
Even though most people think primarily of painful joints, the generic term "rheumatism" covers a large number of autoimmune diseases. This leads to a disturbance of the immune system, which attacks the body's own tissue, such as the synovial membrane in rheumatoid arthritis. The resulting inflammations can be extremely painful and can occur almost anywhere in the body, especially in the well supplied eye. This applies especially to the uvea consisting of iris, ciliary body and choroid, which runs between the dermis and the retina and supplies it with blood. The inflammation of the uvea, uveitis, is the second most common cause of blindness in working age in Germany. Inflammatory eye changes in rheumatic diseases can affect people of all ages, even children. The symptoms can vary depending on age. Rheumatoid arthritis usually occurs after the age of 40, often accompanied by a dry eye. Spondyloarthritides such as Bekhterev's disease are often associated with uveitis. At the ophthalmologist, patients complain of burning eyes with a foreign body sensation, red eyes and stabbing pain. In children and young adults, on the other hand, the inflammations tend to attack the inner structures of the eye, which can lead to sensitivity to glare, pain or impaired visual acuity.
Rheumatism in the eye: Close interdisciplinary cooperation important
Both for the diagnosis of accompanying diseases and for long-term treatment, the interdisciplinary cooperation of the ophthalmologist with other specialists is important, especially with rheumatologists or paediatric rheumatologists as well as internists, since many patients with rheumatoid arthritis also suffer from other chronic diseases.
