Eye Complications

[tarnalberry]

I know we're dealing with an autoimmune condition here that causes a lot of inflammation, but I thought I'd try to find out how many people here have specifically had an issue with eye inflammation prior to going gluten-free or after being accidentally glutened.

I've had a nasty headache, and just today realized that my right eye is feeling rather "sore" - like a bruised muscle - particularly if I look out of the corner of my eye. I saw the eye doctor this afternoon, and there is no visible redness or swelling (and no mass at the back that suggests a tumor!), no increased pressure, or floating cells in the back of my eye, but his best guess is a low level of general inflammation in the area around the back of the eye and the muscles that control it. Ironically, he had mentioned that folks with autoimmune conditions sometimes have this pop up - and after he mentioned that, I mentioned the celiac disease. (He gave me non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops to use for a week.)

So my question is whether or not anyone else here has dealt with something similar in the area of the eye?

[bmorrow]

Yes,

I have had eye inflammation several times. The doctor never gave a reason for the inflammation just treated it and told me not to read for a few days and wear dark glasses. I haven't had a problem since going gluten-free, but the last time I had my eyes examined I was told that I had a torn retina and was developing cataracts. I never thought about this being related to Celiac.

[jams]

I don't have inflamation. I do have "eye crusties" (that is what I call them). It is similliar to what you would get after waking in the morning, but it is all day. I took away makeup and changed my soap, but it just doesn't help. I also couldn't wear contacts because my eyes were dry before going gluten-free. I now can wear them for up to 12 hours! I know it is a little different but that is my story.

[Rachel--24]

When my symptoms first started I had SEVERE eye problems. It was the worst pain I've ever experienced in my whole life. I also had Graves Disease going on at the same time. I think it was a combination of both conditions affecting my eyes. I had alot of pressure and my eyes were just really sore. I also got so sensitive to light I had to wear sunglasses even in the house at night. I couldn't go to the movies cuz of the screen being too bright and I couldn't drive for a couple months. Every eye test they performed came back fine...my vision was good. It took about 6 months but everything kinda fixed itself. I still have some soreness in my eyes on a regular basis and it gets way worse after I'm glutened. Gluten makes the tissue around my eyes swell and my eyes also get really dry. Nothing ever worked for me...I tried all the drops and they made the pain worse. The doc put plugs in my eyes to try to keep them moist but that didn't work either. I'm shuddering just thinking about it...thank God its better now.

[Guest BellyTimber]

I twice had fluid gather in the membrane around one of my eyeballs, making the eyeball stand right out as well as become reddish.

I can't remember whether it was the same eye both times or different.

They were a few months apart.

I may have been rubbing them but am not sure whether that was it.

The first time, a friend took me to hospital in the middle of the night and the doctor there gave me drops and it went down in a few days.

The second time it went down by itself in a day.

Those occasions were about 3 years ago, around the time I was developing the acute abdominal symptoms after going WF but not gluten-free yet.

My GP said it was not the sort of eye problem that went with Crohns therefore he ruled out Crohns. (I had had a problem on the chest shortly before, which also reminded me of Crohns incidentally.)

Anyway without a visit to the enterologist I have been diagnosed with gluten & wheat sensitivity which is a lot luckier than most still suffering unremediated out there...

[SueC]

I don't know if it is inflammation or not...My opthamologist said all looked good but I have a chronic pain above my left eye and a feeling of pressure around it. It feels like something is poking it but no doc can tell my why..... I am just assuming it is related to all this celiac stuff and hoping it will go away soon!

[judy05]

I don't know if it is inflammation or not...My opthamologist said all looked good but I have a chronic pain above my left eye and a feeling of pressure around it. It feels like something is poking  it  but no doc can tell my why..... I am just assuming it is related to all this celiac stuff and hoping it will go away soon!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I also have had eye problems including migraines which cause you to have distorted vision. A few months before my diagnosis I would have what I called "attacks". About 45 min after eating breakfast (containing gluten) I would get very dizzy, anxious, and get like shimmering pools of light in my vision. I couldn't stand bright lights, my eyes were crusty, red and itchy. Sometimes I get sharp stabbing pains in my left eye. Most of these symptoms have cleared since going off gluten, but I still need to wear sunglasses when outside on a sunny day or following a car with a glare on it. I was treated many years for allergies, hay fever, etc., but not much problem since going gluten-free. My main allergy problems this year are headaches and cough with wheezing. My brother once said that he had never had a headache in his life and I asked myself why me???

My eye check ups have all been good, nothing abnormal so I chuck it up to neurological problems from the gluten intolerance. By the way, my new eye doctor has Celiac's, small world!

[bluelotus]

I used to have eye problems too - when I was in junior high to nineth grade (less than 10 years ago), I would get blurry vision in my periphery. Sometimes it would move around my eye, but most of the time it was just to the sides. This happened infrequently, but it scared my mother and doctors enough that they gave me a catscan, finding nothing unusal, of course, and blew it off as migranes (though I had no headaches). Eye doctors didn't notice anything either. These "attacks" were not associated with anything else really, no headaches or tummy problems. I went for years without any more attacks, until Febuary 2005. I had been diagnosed with celiac disease Nov. 2004, but was still getting used to the diet and making mistakes. I have had a suspicion that this was associated with celiac disease. Depending on how many others have experienced these similar problems, I wouldn't be suprised if there is a connection.