Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Iritis and Travel

Hi Folks;

Just wondering what precautions those of you who suffer from iritis take when travelling.

Do you carry an emergency supply of eye drops? If so, did you just go to a doctor and request them, or are there anti-inflammatory eye drops one can buy over the counter?

Thanks;

Ken.

Ken,
If you've had Iritis before, you should call your eye doc and let him know you're traveling and would he recommend you having a script filled for you just in case. And if you have had Iritis, I don't think you'd be wanting to use OTC eye drops. Iritis is serious and needs to be looked after properly.

Good luck in your travels!

Hi
I always take asupply of all I would need.Make sure they have not expired sitting in your cupboard.Remember you need to see an eye specialist where ever you are travelling if you are concerned with an iritis flare. I have them just in case it takes some time to see somebody. SO far I have never flared while travelling, I think of my bag of drops as my good luck charm.

Best of Luck,
Janet

prednisolone drops are a part of my travel kit...don't leave home with out them..just in case

From the first time I got Iritis which was 1978 I always keep a supply of prednisone on hand. I keep it in my refrigerator. And at the first sign of any eye problem I pop in a couple of drops. late last year I was completely out and I got a little roughness in my eye and I went to the doctor and had her write a perscription from my old container. She told me it was the first time she had ever written a perscripton for prednisone. The main thing is the fact I have my supply in the refrigerator.
If I were traveling for any length of time I would take it along.

Doreen

Thanks to you all for your responses.

I actually walked into a clinic yesterday and told the doctor I need an emergency supply of the drops. He didn't seem to have had much - if any - experience with iritis and the required drops so I pretty much had to prescribe them to myself...with the help of his drug manual.

Hmmmm....maybe should have said I need some of that medicinal whacky tabacky, too....

Ken.

Just from my own experience, my optho has always made sure I've had extra bottles of pred forte just for that purpose. When I had my last flare, I had a bottle at work and a bottle at home just so in case I forgot my primary bottle in the A.M. I wouldn't go all day without. I'm not sure how many doctors would go the extra mile like that, but maybe I'm lucky to have the dr. I have.
I definetly would keep an extra bottle close by if at all possible.

Glenn

My doctor always gives me samples so that I am never without. This time he also gave me a prescription to take with me and of course I did flare big time. We went to Florida for 2 weeks and I am never without my Fitovers but I flared. Today I saw the Uveitis specialist and it is calming down. She said I did a good job handling it and now I am tapering.

Yes, definitely take some meds or scripts with you. Have a glorious time.

Possi

I too have started taking my drops with me. I didn't use to do this, but a couple of years ago I was on a trip when my eyes started bothering me. Luckily I was home within a day or two, so it wasn't so bad. I have found that if I use drops when I first start feeling any soreness or light sensitivity, I can stop it in one or two days.

I'm glad you asked this question, I have been wondering if the iritis is a common effect of the SA. I had a bad case of it several years ago, and my eye doc and I were trying to figure out why, When I mentioned to him that I had AS, he did some research and later told me he thought that it might be the cause. What triggers yours? Most of the time, mine seems to come with stress.

I have read that it is important in this day of post 9/11 that you carry you prescriptions in their original container
with all the dr.s name and dosage etc.i would guess that nitoglycerin or something similiar explosive like that in a liquid form might cause the the airport security some concern.I suggest that you keep the bag from the pharmacy that lists your medicine and all the details with the medicine inside.Make these peoples jobs easier.
kev