Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means that your body’s own immune system attacks your healthy cells by mistake^1^. It causes swelling and redness, usually in the joints and tendons^2^ but it can also affect other parts of your body, including the eyes^3^.
When rheumatoid arthritis affects your eyes, it can make them dry and they may feel dehydrated and gritty. In rare cases, rheumatoid arthritis can also cause two serious eye conditions called scleritis and uveitis^3^.
1. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000431.htm [Last accessed 20.10.2016]
2. https://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/what-is-arthritis/types-of-arthritis/65-r-rheumatoid-arthritis
3. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Rheumatoid-arthritis/Pages/Complications.aspx [Last accessed 20.10.2016]
4. http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/q-and-a/symptoms/does-ra-cause-dry-eyes.aspx [Last accessed 20.10.2016]
5. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Sjogrens-syndrome/Pages/Introduction.aspx [Last accessed 20.10.2016]
6. The College of optometrists, Clinical Management Guidelines: Scleritis. Available at: http://www.college-optometrists.org/en/utilities/document-summary.cfm/docid/205F6E8F-A882-4697-8B2D281F476F850D [Last accessed 20.10.2016]
7. http://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/condition/uveitis [Last accessed 20.10.2016]
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