As an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, Crohn’s disease also causes complications in the eyes of 10 percent of those who suffer from the disease, according to Everyday Health. In fact, the chief medical officer of Bausch & Lomb, Dr. Calvin Roberts, suggests being tested for Crohn’s if you experience eye inflammation repeatedly. If your eyes are not affected directly by your Crohn’s disease, it is possible to experience eye diseases due to the medications used in your treatment.
Oral steroids are often prescribed to treat Crohn’s and have been known to cause conditions such as high eye pressure, glaucoma and cataracts. Here are the four most common eye diseases that affect Crohn’s disease patients:
Uveitis The uvea is inside of your eye and is rich in blood vessels that supply nutrition to your cornea, lens, iris and retina. Uveitis is when this lining becomes swollen due to inflammation and causes the retina to swell. The swelling causes blurry vision which may occur suddenly, or over a period of time. Left untreated, uveitis can lead to glaucoma and ultimately, vision loss. Due to the inflammatory nature of Crohn’s, uveitis is the most common of eye diseases associated with the illness.