AnaMarie (Georgia, United States) on 01/31/2024
Michael (New Zealand) on 01/03/2022
The last time I submitted a posting, I claimed I was suffering from Conjunctivitis /Pink Eye, which I had had on maybe two occasions before in life. However, the plot thickens!! My new locum doctor (bless her/I owe her) was not convinced of my "Bathroom, Self Diagnosis" / "Google Opinion" and actually became quite concerned, as she was convinced I had my first case of "Iritis". For five days I had been using some drops for Pink Eye and an eye bath of "Optrex" occasionally, without realizing that it was not that at all. If you think Pink Eye is a challenge, HA, wait 'till you have this one!
She arranged for me to see a specialist at short notice and I had family members drive me to the only clinic in our province which was two hours' drive away. Result - he ran some tests to check that my eyesight had not worsened and prescribed some ophthalmic drops and some gooey stuff that you need to put on the eyelid just prior to retiring. Trouble is that one needs to keep up the strict treatment for weeks and weeks for this to work. The goal is nothing less than to save the eye actually! Serious stuff!! I have been following the protocol, as you may imagine.
Now here's the thing, my sister in law suffered from Iritis for fifty years and suffered hugely before she managed to get on top of the situation, mainly by giving up the consumption of starch! I got some kudos from her by recommending drinking ACV and she was very grateful but still needed to resort to steroid drops whenever (and immediately) she felt an attack lurking in the wings. "Catch it early" became her mantra. But here's the thing (number two) she suspects that two things MAY have exacerbated or prompted these episodes, namely: Tea Bags and Almonds! Co-incidentally (and I am not very good at pinning causes down) I suspected the Almonds also. How weird is that? (I don't use tea bags so can rule that one out).
Now I know some sites will recommend almonds as part of a healthy eyesight regime along with Carrots, Eggs etc. etc. but I had usually steered clear of consuming TOO many almonds at once, as I had been led to believe that although a few were good, too many could be toxic!
Also, my daughter's family had left a jar of almond paste behind when they left us and I had never seen this stuff before so helped myself, rather like Pea Nut Butter on my slice of bread.
Being not part of my normal diet and coming from a novel source it made me a tad suspicious. Do almonds contain strychnine? Could that be the problem I wonder? Had too many almonds been crammed into that jar?
Anyway, I will be steering clear of that one for a while.
BTW my SIL and myself came to remark on the Almond suspicion independently of each other.
Also, the "experts" don't really know what causes Iritis but they suspect a few possible culprits, including a close association/link with a type of spondylitis (a.spondylitis) and maybe psoriasis too? These three work together in association to cause inflammation. A faulty gene is the suspected culprit and the result is a type of auto-immune disease.
My SIL recommends the elimination of starch as the long-term, natural way to counteract this debilitating condition by depriving the particular bacteria involved of their food source.
This is all I have learned so far about this subject but I am guessing that at least one of you might benefit from our family's long experience here ?
Cheers from Down Under where we are sweltering in the heat.
Anna (Florida) on 04/30/2021
First, I want to say that I have had uveitis iritis as well as intermediate, and posterior, and underlying Sjogren's for 22 years. In the fifth year, I used to get excruciating pain in my eye no matter how many drops I used and be blind for a week out of every month. It was suggested in a university article to try an allergy Elimination Diet.
To me, it seemed everything was causing it and I didn't know what to eliminate without not having enough to eat. I came to find that all the nightshades except for potatoes and I thought, tomatoes, were usually the culprit. I had not eliminated Tomatoes, but when there was a nationwide tomato shortage, I was forced to. Hard to tell if anything else had helped it because I did do a liver cleanse juice fast the week later ( do not recommend, I lost too much weight).
MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) protocol!
My eyes cleared up and my Sjogren's improved. However, it had not gone away entirely and when I got around animals I had a known allergy to, the condition started to come back. I had gone back to eating things I had been afraid to before I found out it was tomatoes, and my ana levels were high.
For the suggestion of a friend, I went ahead and removed major food allergens and had to remove all grain as I had just got fibromyalgia from taking doctor's oral steroids. The ANA levels dropped down to nothing. Still, however, my Sjogren's was now back to being seen on blood work, and my uveitis was present and worsened with chemical sensitivity. 3 years ago I had an eye doctor say that the cells they see when the eyes are inflamed are mast cells. I had heard about Mast Cell Activation Syndrome from my chemical sensitivity group online.
Having to research low histamine for another condition, I came across a histamine dietary protocol. Believe it or not, it happens to be suggested for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (this and low FODMAP which has been helping my IBS, best to work with a nutritionist or a certified app)! Every food it said was High histamine, for the most part, I had already found flared the uveitis. I've continued further and removed the rest of the food's it's suggested.
My saliva has come back in my mouth, tears back to my eyes, although my skin has yet to fully get hydrated. My uveitis seems to be more peaceful to me. I will continue posting updates. I am very excited about the success of this!
Sheila (Fairfax, CA, USA) on 04/18/2021
Since then it's a yearly (sometimes twice) unwelcomed guest. I try to limit the use of steroid drops and dabble with homeopathics (there are so many depending on symptoms that one must choose personally), rose water sprayed into the eye frequently, and drinking tea from calendula flowers, saffron, tulsi and rose petals, taking zeaxanthin.
The ayurvedic remedy is to put a cold milk pad on it and lie down three times a day for at least 20 mins. I've cleansed my liver a lot, and keep doing so, my diet is so clean I cannot take out any more stuff (smile). Still, I cannot get over it entirely without the doctor's drops and it bothers me... Once I'm healed from the current outbreak I'm about to do a month long ayurvedic deep detox to see if that helps. It's such a stressful ordeal and I don't want to go through it anymore!
PS someone mentioned allergy pills: did you mean natural ones from a health food store? Any particular brand?
Nancy H. (United States) on 05/12/2020
From time to time it would come back and finally I saw a Naturopath who said to do a Liver cleanse. After doing this, I have never gotten it back.
Alan (UK) on 01/30/2020
My problem with the gene cause is that it doesn’t explain flare ups, it predisposes us but an environmental trigger might well be involved. I have a flare up of iritis right now, I’m 64, I tend to have them two or three times a year. I honestly believe food intolerance might be a trigger.
I started eating organic humous a few days ago not knowing it contains sesame which I have an intolerance to. It’s something to consider.
There’s also a theory that klebsiella bacteria are involved, which thrive on starchy foods and when they thrive, we don’t. In fact a few years ago I cured my ulcerative colitis by cutting out bread cakes, sugar etc. so I am a believer.
The S.C.D. is worth looking at, and the London diet. The diet approach has helped me a lot, got me off meds completely, and I’ve had the lot over the years from anti-inflammatory to steroids to anti-tnf alpha injections. My doctor reckoned the A.S. had gone into remission, I think it was the dietary changes that put it there. Wish I’d known 40 years ago what I know now.
ACV for Iritis Michael (New Zealand) on 07/26/2017
Cheers, Michael
Iritis Remedies - Tested and Working Jojosan (Vancouver, Bc) on 06/07/2017
Here are my findings over the past 6 years of online research & daily testing. I am in remission for over 2 years now. Iritis is rare now, AS has it's daily spinal concerns but daily pain intervals are fewer & at times gone completely. My overall body pain, GI tract problems, back pain, neck & chest pains, brain fog, chemical fear & nerve problems experienced in the past are little to none. so that's my evidence that things have gone well!
These techniques & products work nicely along with daily, regular exercise & stretching to cope with neuropathy pain. As matter of fact, if you have eye problems, whether macular degeneration, or iritis, blood flow is an imperative for good eye health. So get moving! A bike is one of the best things you can do for yourself - but a nice, brisk walk will help as well.
Here's the basic formula along with other things that I do & it all works together:
- 3 x 100mg Alpha-Lipoic Acid + 1(-2) capsules of 6 billion active cells of Acidophillus. Take before meals preferred. In the event of iritis onset, take & within 20 minutes you should have relief. then get up & walk around outside for about 30 minutes at least. (in canada these are regulated so I can buy 90 units of ALA for about $10 which has both types of ALA & I have found this cheaper version to be effective. Where R-lipoic is sold, my advice is to avoid this, as something becomes less effective when R + S lipoic acids are not combined. As for the acidophillus I can purchase 180 capsules of 6 billion cells for about $17 - $20 CDN). In the USA Trader Joe's & Whole Foods carry decent versions. Avoid any ALA that includes sugars or especially in tablet form as they contain corn starch - & will only exacerbate the condition in your eye. I suspect this is another reason why prednisone tablets are so problematic - as they also contain corn starch.)
The combo of these two supplements are taken 3x's/day prior to meals - but you can take them after as well. make sure to take them througout the day though & at regular internals. If I have wine in the evening with a piece of chocolate(both are rare now), then I'll take 2 extra ALA, with an Acidophillus. As well, if I am out riding my bike for 3-5 hours I will take an extra dosage to combine with my calorie intake. If I have more than my regular cappuccino in the AM, then I know my gut will become more reactive later in the day or in 2 days. Coffee, alcohol, sugars all challenge the intestinal tract if sensitive. And if there is mold/yeast in your GI tract - then these items will feed the mold spores.
- whatever I do one day affects me 1-2 days later. If it's a lot of exercise then it will carry through for easily a week. If it's a glass of wine with cheese - in summertime I'll feel the ill effects in 2 days; in the winter when I get less activity, the effects will happen in 20 minutes to a few hours.
*From all the experiments I've done, it appears that the problem is upper intestinal irritation (possibly from molds/yeasts in my body system) that results in reactivity in the eye. If you have lower bowel problems as well (hemmerroids pushing down) then I would suggest taking once daily in the AM - a 50 billion cells capsule of refrigerated acidophillus that has a fair amount of bactobacillus. This one strain helps the lower intestines more, whereas the lactobacillus work nicely in the upper intestinal tract.
I can go on longer about the various vitamins I take, C & E & D3 are super important, and minerals (for adrenal fatigue post hormone Rx use: 200mcg selenium, 50mg zinc & 250mg iodine tablets - stay on for 3 months & see how awake you now are - then just stay on for about 2-3 years if fatigue has been prolonged & substantial); but this simple GI tract combo along with the kefir fermentation mentioned at the bottom of this post & eating more natural foods that are fibrous really does do the trick! And for the most part it's simple. If you can't access kefir, then a nice plain 3.5% fat yogurt is a good start (sheep, goat, cow, whatever you like.)
And if you do endurance exercises like I do, lots of things will irritate your gut. make sure your water bottles & mouth pieces are clean, & free from molds - & recycle them from time to time & get new ones. Try water w/a bit of lemon & take electrolytes in capsule form with a bit of food, instead of the sugary juices (note: if you're in super hot weather you'll have to take in the liquid forms - they assimilate faster & dehydration is no joke w/iritis or arthritis. You are going to need more water than others would regardless of their comparative size to yours.)
- stay away from moldy areas while you're reactive. When you're not, clean out those areas or old corrugated boxes - as they carry spores very effectively. You can wear a face mask if it helps & get outside to breath clean air every 30 minutes to help ease the anger or irritation the mold causes you. Myself - I try to watch things on the half hour now.
- watch for a spiral of striations moving from your iris outwards & any larger feeder veins that appear enlarged. If you are feeling pains in the eye - it's a good sign that you're stressed & inflammation is in the works.
- Blood bursts of regular veins due to dry eye are not the same thing, but I do find that when I'm stressed that I get these more often. Drink plenty of water & try to relax & stretch-out.
- Iritis tends to come with head pain & irritability & brain fog. Things that you may naturally work through emotionally or cognitively may seem difficult to think through or not even apparent. That's a good warning sign & normal with systemic inflammation.
- do get checked for HLA-B27 gene, if ankylosing spondylitis or other reactive arthritis shows up, avoid starvation technique described below by another person. This can cause symptoms that are similar to gout in the feet & fingers.
- *avoid corn & all fructose products or corn starch products (this will take a bit of fishing for research as there are approx. 45 various corn products on the market & go under several names. But you may find yourself to be highly reactive to them. Corn BTW seems to have more mold spores than many other foods & this may be the problem with stored food stuffs that have corn.)
- avoid alcohol while reactive, but you can have a bit from time to time when things are good (note that alcohols, wine, beer contain yeast - which is a fungus & if you're reactive those fungii are going to be troublesome)
- try taking in coconut water daily to reduce stomach problems & maybe add some L-Glutamine powder into it with water - helps the tummy heal & feels generally good & is low cost. If you've taken any prednisone in the past, L-Glutamine will be a very good idea for you to heal the gut & improve muscle tone.
- basically eat more natural foods, fermented foods (but not white vinegar - it feeds yeast), good fats (even butter), regular natural proteins especially eggs are fine, better quality veggies & fruits that are in particularly high in fibre. Get good quality salts - otherwise you'll be peeing too much.
-***definitely start employing use of kefir - you can ferment your own as many people will help you access the starter grains online. If you do have an auto immune condition this will be particularly helpful & aid in decreasing the depression, anxiety, fear, etc., associated with various arthritis types. Generally with the added 35+ healthy bacteria in your GI tract, you'll feel happier, fight disease better, and overall brain fog will slowly decrease. A huge blessing! Your family will be glad to see the person they know & love back again.
Google: crohn's babe kefir - online vimeo presentation
This young woman has a fabulous presentation. She's sweet, informative & has experienced a nice recovery from her crohn's condition.
BTW - you can even add a bit of the fermented bacteria from the kefir juice to cream & let sit for about 4 days & 4 hours, then churn to make a really tasty, healthy & super creamy homemade butter. Add a bit of Himalayan pink sea salt to help preserve.
Delicious & just fine. If you are a little abundant in the weight department, you may find that adding butter & olive oil to your diet will help you to get enough calories in the day & reduce your sugar cravings & intake. This should help you drop a few excess pounds. If you are financially strapped - investing in good foods & some simple supplements will help to get you back to work, able to study again & looking forward to a brighter future. Borrow the money you need & invest in your body & health. But whatever you do - get a deal! I always do & I've managed very well because of it.
Good luck & hears to improved vision & living!
Carolyn (San Diego) on 07/26/2016
Earthy (Buchanan, Tn.) on 05/21/2016
I am also taking a bilberry blend with rutin, again working out the dose. Also I am drinking ginger and green tea every morning w honey. I just had a bout last October and after the steroids I started the turmeric and bilberry. Now I feel another bout starting again so I am increasing everything and going to try to fast like a lot of you have said helps. So I will let you know what happens. I think after reading what a lot of you have been thru I feel fortunate. I am hoping the best for all of you. Thx
Valorie M. (Ny) on 03/14/2016
Now trying to heal my tree nut allergies by doing the 5:2 fast. Will update on the allergy page.
Amaia (Atlanta, Ga) on 03/13/2015
Zark (Emerald City) on 02/02/2015
A bit about Rutin:
Kaya H. (UK) on 11/13/2014
My treatment for iritis:
Hope this might help someone else out there!!
Kaya
Deb (Georgina, Ontario) on 05/08/2013
Dollface (Covina, Ca) on 03/02/2013
Silver Fox (Arcata, California, Usa) on 04/19/2012
I believe I got iritis from drawing for hours in poor light. I believe it was brought on by eye strain. Anyway, fasting turned a miserable experience into an empowering experience. You can use it with colds, flu, tonsilitis, arthritis, bronchitis, cystitis.... On and on.
Koistie (Brisbane, Qld, Australia) on 04/16/2012
After a bit of research I discovered Bilberry as a suggested natural remedy and have had amazing results. It's frequently found in over the counter products for healthy eye function but have found 5000mg of Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) to be the best. I take 4 capsules a day -as per directions- but increase this number if I have a flare up. Not only has it reduced the number of flare-ups but when I have an attack it actively relieves the pain and stops the inflammation in its tracks.
