Eye Inflammation and Psoriatic Arthritis

What is clear is how disruptive PsA can be to you, whether in your eyes or your joints.

According to rheumatologist Rebecca Haberman, M.D., a clinical instructor at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, uveitis symptoms can be wide-ranging and can affect your vision. “The most common symptoms are eye redness and pain and can occur in one eye or both,” says Dr. Haberman. “Other symptoms that can occur include blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and small or irregular shaped pupils.”

It is important to stay on top of an annual eye exam, especially for those with psoriasis because they are at a higher risk for developing PsA. Presence of mild inflammation could be an indication of the early stages of PsA development, since uveitis is a strong risk factor for PsA, says Dr. Haberman. “While PsA cannot be diagnosed or discovered through an eye exam alone, uveitis can occur before PsA development or may be a first presenting sign of psoriatic disease.”

As with flares in your joints, uveitis can appear with similar frequency, depending on mitigating outside factors like stress, weather and irritants in the eye. If not properly treated, anterior uveitis can lead to permanent eye damage, says Dr. Haberman. That is why it is important to seek medical help if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment can go a long way in avoiding permanent eye damage.

“For any pain, redness or blurred vision, you should see an ophthalmologist right away to determine if you have uveitis,” says Dr. Haberman. “And then discuss the findings with your rheumatologist (or dermatologist).”

As for treating uveitis, it really depends on the severity of inflammation. Dr. Haberman says mild-to-moderate symptoms might be treated with steroid eye drops when the inflammation occurs. For more severe symptoms, an oral steroid might be administrated. And for some people, finding the right treatment for psoriatic disease can help lead to reduced inflammation. “Medication used to treat psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis may also be used, such as oral small molecules like methotrexate and biologic agents such as adalimumab and infliximab,” says Dr. Haberman.

Getting an early start can help lead to more effective treatment. For those with PsA who live with occasional eye inflammation, Dr. Haberman says the best thing you can do for yourself is find a PsA treatment that works and stick with it.

“It is important to stay on your medications,” she says. “Especially if you have recurrent uveitis, staying on your medications can reduce the risk of repeat episodes.”