Is Your Eye Pain Actually an IBD Flare?

Did you know that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) isn't only a digestive condition? It can also attack your vision. Your host, Amber J Tresca, breaks down some of the most common eye-related extra-intestinal manifestations (EIMs) of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Learn how to identify the warning signs of episcleritis, uveitis, and scleritis, and find out when you need to see an ophthalmologist right away to protect your eyesight. Episode transcript and more information at: Key Chapters & Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction: Protecting your vision with IBD 02:07 - What are Extra-Intestinal Manifestations (EIMs)? 04:21 - How common is eye disease in IBD patients? 05:43 - Condition 1: Episcleritis (Symptoms and treatments) 07:15 - Why episcleritis often tracks with IBD flares 10:14 - Condition 2: Uveitis (Red flags and risks of vision loss) 13:58 - Condition 3: Scleritis (Rare but severe complications) 16:51 - Condition 4: Dry Eyes 18:23 - Risk Factors: Who is most likely to develop IBD eye issues? 20:10 - When to call your doctor and why you need an ophthalmologist 23:25 - Practical tips: Keeping eye drops in the fridge Sources: Vavricka SR, Schoepfer A, Scharl M, Lakatos PL, Navarini A, Rogler G. Extraintestinal Manifestations of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis . 2015;21(8):1982-1992. doi:10.1097/MIB.0000000000000392 Mintz R, Feller ER, Bahr RL, Shah SA. Ocular manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis . 2004;10(2):135-139. doi:10.1097/00054725-200403000-00012 Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. Eye complications in IBD . Rosenbaum JT, Bodaghi B, Couto C, et al. New observations and emerging ideas in diagnosis and management of non-infectious uveitis: A review. Semin Arthritis Rheum . 2019;49(3):438-445. doi:10.1016/j.semarthrit.2019.06.004 World Health Organization. Vitamin A deficiency and ocular health . Rufo PA, Denson LA, Sylvester FA, et al. Health supervision in the management of children and adolescents with IBD: NASPGHAN recommendations. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr . 2012;55(1):93-108. doi:10.1097/MPG.0b013e31825959b8 Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: About IBD Verywell Health: Verywell Health Facebook: @aboutIBD Twitter: @aboutIBD Pinterest: @aboutibd Instagram: @about_IBD YouTube: @AboutIBD Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at: Facebook: @maccooneycomposer Instagram: @maccooneycomposer YouTube: @MacCooneyComposer Web: Cooney Studio Theme music, IBD Dance Party , is from ©Cooney Studio. These show notes contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

You can listen to Is Your Eye Pain Actually an IBD Flare? online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Is Your Eye Pain Actually an IBD Flare? is an episode from About IBD by About IBD With Amber J Tresca.

This episode is 16:48 long.

This episode was published on Apr 21, 2026.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from About IBD when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.