RA causes dry eyes & over time can cause cataracts. It also causes hearing loss. Get your eyes checked every year & hearing also.

I have severe dry eye. I tried Restasis and then Xiidra. The Xiidra worked somewhat but it burned so badly that I stopped it. I talked to the eye doctor and he suggested Serum Tears. It is not covered by insurance, but it was worth a try and it has been so much better. Serum tears are made from your own blood serum. You have to find a place that does this, not all eye institutes or hospitals do it. I go once every 6 weeks and it cost $80.00 each time. They draw 6 vials of blood. and then they spin it to get the serum and mix with saline and freeze it for you. I pick it up late that same day or the next day.
I store it in the freezer. You start by thawing one bottle and using the drops 4 times each day. At the end of 5 days thaw the next bottle and throw out the old one. They have been a blessing and I have found it to be worth the cost, and you are using your own cells to help heal your eyes, not chemicals. I know this sounds weird...I call it a science experiment, but it works for me.
Hope this helps!

I think the cost of drugs is outrageous. You may want to check out www.goodrx.com. I have saved money on prescriptions with it. It’s a free card.

I also use the serum drops for Sjogrens, but mine cost $195 for 15 vials! I use the only pharmacy within 100 miles that makes them. I'm supposed to use the drops every two hours while awake. I try to stretch them out for 8 weeks because they are so expensive. They work so much better than anything else has, so I'm willing to spend the money on them. I also take generic Salagen pills which are ultra expensive! WHY are these medications so expensive? I'm on my fourth Biological for RA, in 30 years, and have never been able to afford any of them! I always had to go through the manufacture or some other organization that helped pay for them! I have also taken Plaquenil for about 25 years and took Methotrexate for about 20 years. I had to discontinue the Methotrexate when I landed in the hospital four years ago with Sarcoidosis that affected my kidneys and lungs. I get an IV infusion of Simponi Aria once every 8 weeks, now. The only time I am completely pain free is when I'm on steroids and my Dr. only wants me on them very temporarily while having a flare up! The one medicine that really helps and is so cheap and I can't take it regularly!!! So, I just continue to have to take Ambien, a pain pill and a muscle relaxer in order to sleep at night and live a very sedate lifestyle doing pretty much nothing! Thank goodness I love to read and watch movies! Oh, and YES I take antidepressants and anti anxiety meds daily because RA is not only painful and exhausting, it's very depressing!

Hi there. I have both. It does cause them, especially the hearing loss. I'm also a diabetic so that does too. Hugs.