July is Juvenile Arthritis Month, and it may be a condition you are not familiar with. When we think of arthritis, we might think it mostly affects older adults. While arthritis is associated with adults, there are different forms of the disease. In some cases, even children can develop arthritis. |
What is juvenile arthritis?
Most types of juvenile arthritis are considered an autoimmune disorder. What happens is for unknown reasons the immune system starts attacking the tissues of the body as if it was dangerous. The immune response leads to damage to the joints.
Symptoms
Possible symptoms of juvenile arthritis include the following:
- Joint pain and stiffness
- Decreased range of motion
- Fatigue
- A skin rash
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Dry eyes
How juvenile arthritis may affect the eyes
Juvenile arthritis may lead to the following eye complications:
Uveitis: Uveitis involves an inflammation of the iris in the eye. It is the most common eye complication associated with juvenile arthritis. Symptoms of uveitis include:
- Pain
- Light sensitivity
- Blurry vision
- Redness
Usually, uveitis is treated with eye drops. If it is not caught early, it can lead to scarring in the eye and vision problems.
Glaucoma: If uveitis becomes severe and is not treated, it can cause glaucoma and permanent vision loss.
Cataracts: Although juvenile arthritis itself may not cause cataracts, the medication, such as steroids, used to treat it may increase a person’s risk. The chances of developing cataracts due to medication side effects increases the longer the child is on the drugs.
It is important to understand that eye complications can occur anytime a child has juvenile arthritis. They may occur as soon as the child is diagnosed, or they could develop years down the road. The severity of the disease also does not appear to determine whether eye problems develop. Some children with mild joint disease develop eye complications.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, about 50 percent of children do not have obvious symptoms of eye complications at first. In many children, by the time they have symptoms, damage to the eye is already done. It is vital for children with juvenile arthritis to have an eye exam as soon as they are diagnosed with the condition and have regular eye exams after.
Treatment
Treatment may involve different types of medication, such as steroids to reduce inflammation. Physical therapy to maintain range of motion is also helpful. Additional treatments, such as using heat, massage, and topical pain relievers, may also be useful. Healthy eating habits and light exercise is also beneficial. A combination of treatments may be most effective in managing symptoms.
If your child has juvenile arthritis and you have concerns about their eye health, see an eye doctor as soon as possible.
We are happy to help if you have any questions. To discuss whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors would be appropriate at this time, please call our office at 508-746-8600.