What Causes Ptosis And Dry Eyes When Diagnosed With Crohn's Disease?

Posted on Sat, 24 Jun 2017

Question: I have been diagnosed with Chrons and also am suffering Gerd with a Hiatus Hernia.
Recently my right eyelid and right eyebrow drooped ..Ptosis. Then I developed gritty sore and dry eyes. Before this I had the worst pain in my shoulder joint Right side..down to my elbow . It felt it in the bone. I could hardly lift my arm. It lasted a week or so then went away.
My tear production is 5 when my Opthamologist says it needs to be somewhere between 15-20 marker. My mouth gets dry alot and in the mornings my lips are very dry. My skin is also dry and flakes on my arms legs etc. I get this strange fleeting headache that comes and goes. .some days...it lasts a few seconds or minute or two.
I am on night eye cream and drops through the day. The Ptosis fluctuates..sometimes really bad other times near normal. I suffer fatigue.
The medical fraternity have undertaken antibody blood tests but the have come back normal ..Ache Ana.
Can someone throw some light on what they think it could be.

Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Ptosis and dry eyes

Detailed Answer:
Good evening

Thank you for writing on health care magic

Well, to start with Ptosis and dry eyes are a bit of unconnected things.. It is unlike the other condition we see in thyroid problems( where the eyes are wide open causing dryness)...

1. Dryness is due to your tear glands drying up and not producing enough tears needed for the lubrication. A lot of times it can be due to an autoimmune problem or diabetes or it can be age related. I would like to ask you a few more queries::

1. DO you experience dry mouth also or just dry eyes??

2. ANy history of oral ulcers or Fatigue??

3. Any history of hair fall or joint pains??

In this case, they are probably thinking of Sjogrens syndrome.. As you have crohns disease it can be associated with it...But it can still be there even if ANA is negative. So I wanted to know the other queries too

(2) As for ptosis, it commonly happens either due to your muscles or nerve problem. IT doesnt look like Nerve here as it does recover. So can be due to your muscle weakness..You need to consult a neurologist for the same and make sure they have looked into Myaesthenia Gravis as well

Do let me know these queries

Hope the information was useful

REgards
Dr Naval

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Naval Mendiratta (26 minutes later)

Hi Dr
yes I do experience dry mouth and lips. Recently had mouth ulcers. Have Fatigue bif time . Joint bone pain that comes and goes. Hair has thinned but not sure if that is because of drugs for Crohns .

Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (24 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Is it sjogrens syndrome

Detailed Answer:
Good evening

Well, the features do point towards Sjogrens Syndrome. It is also an autoimmune disease like crohns and often can accompany each other...ANA can be negative in 30 percent of the cases...

But to confirm the diagnosis and to treat it accordingly, we need something more substantial. You can ask your doctor to plan for salivary gland Biopsy. It will be of utmost help in looking at the inflammation going on in the glands. Also I would like to know how much was your ESR, Globulin fraction.

it is important to reach the diagnosis as short course of steroids are helpful in lowering the inflammation going on in your tear glands and the mouth glands.

As for your hair fall, it doesnt look related to your crohns medicines as they are mild drugs and tend to have less of side effects

Hope the information was useful

Do let me know for more queries

REgards
Dr Naval

Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar