What Autoimmune Diseases Affect the Eyes?

Autoimmune diseases cause the body to mistakenly attack its healthy cells. If you have autoimmune disorder, it can also affect your eyes and impair your eyesight. At Warm Springs Optometric Group in Fremont, CA, we provide eye exams to diagnose any conditions due to autoimmune diseases and offer treatment that can preserve your vision.
 

Autoimmune Diseases That Can Impair Your Vision

Autoimmune diseases can cause a variety of symptoms, such as vision loss, and can prevent you from accomplishing certain tasks and seeing clearly. Some of these autoimmune diseases include:

• Lupus — Eye inflammation is often seen in lupus patients. Along with that, you may also experience blurry vision, eye pain, light sensitivity, and dry eyes.

• Multiple Sclerosis — MS is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. Patients with MS will often develop optic neuritis, which occurs when the optic nerve becomes inflamed. This autoimmune disease can also affect color perception and cause blurry vision.

• Thyroid Disease — You can also develop Graves’ Eye Disease when you have thyroid disease. The condition will cause the body to attack the thyroid gland and specific areas around the eyes. As a result, you might experience blurry vision or double vision.

• Uveitis — Uveitis affects the iris of the eye and leads to inflammation. Due to the disease, you may see floaters and have difficulty with night vision.

• Diabetes — Diabetes is among the leading causes of blindness in the world. When blood sugary is not controlled, it can damage the blood vessels in the eyes.

• Rheumatoid Arthritis — Patients with rheumatoid arthritis can develop scleritis, which occurs when the white part of the eye is inflamed. Over time, scleritis can permanently damage the eye.
   

The Importance of Eye Exams

If you have an autoimmune disorder, routine eye care is essential. When you visit us, our optometrists will perform an eye exam and speak to you about any conditions or symptoms you may have. We can also advise you on how often you should be screened for any vision problems and offer the necessary treatment that can help you see clearly. With routine eye exams, our eye doctors can detect any conditions early and ensure you receive prompt treatment.
 

Contact us for an Appointment Today

If you are experiencing any vision problems due to an autoimmune disease, let out team at Warm Springs Optometric Group in Fremont, CA, help. To learn about the treatments that we provide or to schedule your appointment, contact us at (510) 490-0827 today. When you need an optometrist near me, we are ready to assist you!