Get Your Eyes Checked to Prevent RA-Related Vision Loss

If youve been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), youd be wise to visit an ophthamologist for a thorough eye exam. RA is closely associated with several eye disorders, such as iritis (a painful inflammation of the iris) and scleritis (inflammation of the outer layer of tissue that covers the eyeball). "If these disorders are promptly treated, they are usually manageable," says Careen Lowder, MD, an ophthalmologist at Cleveland Clinics Cole Eye Institute. "But if left untreated, they can result in substantial vision loss."