Lupus is one of several types of autoimmune diseases that cause the body’s own immune system to mistakenly attack and damage healthy tissues. Despite the different types of autoimmune diseases that exist, many of the symptoms are shared such as joint pain, digestive issues, fatigue, swelling, and hair or skin problems.
Another symptom that is often associated with having an autoimmune disease is dry eyes. This occurs when the eyes fail to produce enough tears or lack the proper amount of lubrication. According to research, over 30% of people with lupus suffer from dry eyes. If you have dry eyes, you may feel as if something is in your eye along with pain, itching, burning, or watery eyes. There are some lupus patients that also get diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome which is another autoimmune disease that attacks the glands of the eyes as well as the saliva in the mouth.
If you are under the care of a Rheumatologist, he or she may require that you see an eye doctor every six months especially if you take certain medications that can impact the eyes such as Plaquenil and Methotrexate. With dry eyes, you may use over the counter products such as humidifiers or eye shields to help with symptoms.
For more severe issues, you may need artificial tears or your doctor may prescribe eye drops. There are numerous brands available, but there are two brands that should no longer be purchased due to recent recalls that have been linked to serious eye infections and vision loss. With the number of cases increasing, the CDC and the FDA are warning consumers to stop using and return the following products:
- Artificial Tears distributed by Ezricare, LLC and DELSAM Pharma which was associated with severe eye infections in over 55 patients and one death. The infections were cause by a drug resistant bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- In addition, it is advised to stop using DELSAM Pharma’s Artificial Ointment.
It is so important to be aware of what we are putting in and on our bodies and to be our own advocate. If something doesn’t sit well with you, trust your intuition and speak up. After all, no one knows your body better than you do.
-Monaye
https://www.drugwatch.com/drugs/ezricare-artificial-tears/
https://www.drugwatch.com/legal/ezricare-artificial-tears-lawsuits/
Unbreakable Survivor 