When most people think about arthritis, they think about stiff joints, inflammation, and difficulty moving comfortably. What they may not realize is that some types of arthritis can affect much more than the joints, including the eyes.
Understanding the connection between arthritis and eye health is particularly important for older adults. If you have arthritis, regular eye care should be part of your overall approach to protecting your health and maintaining your quality of life.
How Can Arthritis Affect Your Eyes?
Arthritis is not always limited to the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis involves the body’s immune system, which can cause inflammation in tissues throughout the body.
The eyes can be affected because they contain many structures that may respond to systemic inflammation. Depending on the underlying condition, a person may experience relatively common problems such as dry eye or more serious inflammatory conditions involving deeper parts of the eye.
The connection is particularly well documented with rheumatoid arthritis. Studies have identified dry eye disease, episcleritis, scleritis, peripheral ulcerative keratitis, and other ocular conditions among people with RA. That means eye symptoms should not automatically be dismissed as a normal part of aging or simply another inconvenience of living with arthritis.
The Dry Eye and Arthritis Connection
One of the most common ways arthritis can affect the eyes is through dry eye disease. Dry eye occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears or when tears evaporate too quickly to keep the eye’s surface adequately lubricated.
Symptoms can include:
- Burning or stinging
- A gritty or sandy feeling
- Redness
- Watery eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Blurred or fluctuating vision
- Eye fatigue or discomfort
The connection between dry eye and arthritis is particularly important for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Autoimmune inflammation can affect the glands responsible for producing tears, contributing to chronic dryness and irritation. Recent research identifies dry eye disease as the most common ocular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis.
If your eyes constantly feel dry or irritated despite using over-the-counter artificial tears, it may be worth discussing your symptoms with an ophthalmologist. Persistent dry eye can require more than occasional lubrication, and identifying an underlying inflammatory component can help guide appropriate treatment.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Eye Problems Can Be More Serious
While dry eye is common, some rheumatoid arthritis eye problems involve significant inflammation and require prompt medical attention. The important thing to remember is that not every red, painful, or irritated eye in someone with arthritis is simply a dry eye. Some symptoms can signal deeper inflammation.
Episcleritis
Episcleritis is inflammation of the thin layer of tissue covering the white part of the eye. It can cause redness and irritation and is generally less severe than scleritis.
Scleritis
Scleritis involves inflammation of the sclera, the deeper white outer layer of the eye. Unlike ordinary eye redness, scleritis can cause significant pain and may threaten vision if left untreated. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the systemic conditions most strongly associated with scleritis, and severe forms can result in serious complications.
Peripheral Ulcerative Keratitis
Rheumatoid arthritis can also be associated with peripheral ulcerative keratitis, an inflammatory condition affecting the cornea. This is less common but can be sight-threatening and requires medical evaluation.
What About Uveitis?
Uveitis is inflammation of the uvea, which includes structures within the middle portion of the eye. It can cause symptoms such as eye pain, redness, blurred vision, floaters, and sensitivity to light.
Uveitis is associated with several autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. The specific eye complications vary depending on the underlying disease. For example, rheumatoid arthritis is more commonly associated with dry eye, scleritis, and corneal inflammation, while other inflammatory conditions may have stronger associations with uveitis.
This is one reason an accurate diagnosis matters. An ophthalmologist can evaluate the eye to determine whether symptoms are related to dryness, inflammation, infection, medication effects, or another condition.
Arthritis Medications Can Also Affect Eye Health
There is another important connection between arthritis and eye health. Certain medications used to manage inflammatory diseases can sometimes have ocular effects.
For example, long-term corticosteroid use has been associated with an increased risk of conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma. Hydroxychloroquine, a medication commonly used for certain autoimmune conditions, can also affect the retina in some patients, which is why appropriate eye monitoring is important for people taking the medication.
This does not mean that patients should stop taking prescribed medications. Instead, it highlights the importance of communication between your rheumatologist, primary care physician, and eye doctor.
When Should Someone With Arthritis See an Eye Doctor?
Routine comprehensive eye examinations are important for everyone, but people with inflammatory or autoimmune conditions may have additional reasons to stay consistent with eye care. Sudden vision changes, severe eye pain, or other significant changes should receive prompt medical attention.
Contact an eye care professional if you experience:
- Persistent dry, burning, or gritty eyes
- Unexplained eye redness
- Eye pain or tenderness
- New sensitivity to light
- Blurred or changing vision
- New floaters or visual disturbances
- Symptoms that do not improve with basic dry eye treatments
Even if your vision seems normal, regular examinations can help identify problems before they cause noticeable changes. This becomes increasingly important as you get older, when conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other eye diseases also become more common.
Your Rheumatologist and Eye Doctor Can Work Together
Managing arthritis is about more than controlling joint symptoms. For people with systemic inflammatory conditions, protecting overall health may require coordination among multiple specialists.
Your rheumatologist focuses on controlling the underlying inflammatory disease. At the same time, your ophthalmologist can evaluate how that disease may be affecting your eyes and monitor for other age-related or medication-related eye conditions. Keeping both doctors informed about changes in your health, medications, and symptoms can help create a more complete picture of your care.
New Vision Eye Center: Caring for Your Eyes Beyond Arthritis
Arthritis can affect more than your joints, and understanding its potential impact on your eyes is an important part of managing your overall health. From persistent dry eye to more serious inflammatory conditions, changes in your eyes should not be ignored—especially if you have rheumatoid arthritis or another autoimmune condition.
Regular comprehensive eye exams can help your ophthalmologist identify inflammation, monitor for age-related eye conditions, and watch for potential effects of certain medications. Be sure to tell your eye doctor about your arthritis diagnosis, medications, and any changes in your vision or eye comfort.
New Vision Eye Center provides comprehensive general ophthalmology services, including evaluation and treatment for dry eye and other eye conditions, as well as specialized medical and surgical care. Our team uses diagnostic technology to evaluate patients’ visual and ocular health and develop individualized treatment plans.
Schedule an appointment today to give your eyes the attention they deserve.