Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) commonly causes eye inflammation, especially acute anterior uveitis (iritis), presenting as sudden redness, pain, blurred vision, and extreme light sensitivity (photophobia), usually in only one eye, requiring immediate medical attention to prevent vision loss. Other risks include cataracts and glaucoma, though uveitis is the most frequent eye issue.
The symptoms may include:
Cauda equina type of syndrome with neuropathic bladder is a rare but known complication of long-standing ankylosing spondylitis.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HLA-B27 RELATED UVEITIS? The symptoms can vary, but generally include: eye redness, eye pain, light sensitivity, blurry vision, and dark, floating spots in your vision (floaters). The symptoms can occur in one or both eyes.
Your vision may also become blurred or cloudy. You should visit your GP as soon as possible if you have AS and think you may have developed iritis, as the condition can cause the loss of some or all of your vision if not treated promptly.
Symptoms can include red eyes, painful eyes or, when severe, loss of vision. Multiple medications are used to treat autoimmune eye disease, and management of these conditions involves close coordination between the ophthalmologist and the rheumatologist.
Cervicogenic Visual Dysfunction: This term refers to visual disturbances that may arise from issues in the cervical spine. Symptoms can include blurred vision, double vision, and sensitivity to light.
HLA-B27 and Ankylosing Spondylitis
One gene, HLA-B27, is strongly associated with a big family of rheumatic diseases called spondyloarthropathies. It includes: Axial spondyloarthritis. Axial psoriatic arthritis.
Stage 4 ankylosing spondylitis (AS) typically involves complications such as reduced mobility, bone fusion, and an increased risk of fractures, significantly affecting a person's ability to function. Stage 4 AS treatment may involve physical therapy, medication, and lifestyle adjustments.
Neurological complications and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis
July 18, 2025
A new peer-reviewed study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology suggests that ivarmacitinib, a new medication known as a selective JAK1 inhibitor, may be a promising treatment for people with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The study was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial.
Given the role of vitamin D in promoting bone health and its anti-inflammatory properties, people with spondylitis might benefit from taking a vitamin D supplement.
According to an NIH study, over 70% of those with Ankylosing Spondylitis incur a foot deformity. In advanced cases of AS, abnormal bone growth, such as Haglund's deformity, can occur at the back of the heel. This can lead to further deformities and impaired function.
Ankylosing spondylitis is more severe than other forms of arthritis because it primarily affects the spine and sacroiliac joints, leading to significant pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. Unlike rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, AS causes chronic inflammation and long-term joint damage.
Corticosteroids. Corticosteroids have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect and can be taken as injections by people with AS. If a particular joint is inflamed, corticosteroids can be injected directly into the joint. You'll need to rest the joint for up to 48 hours after the injection.
Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a rheumatic inflammatory disease with unknown etiology, and fatigue is one of the main systemic symptoms of AS. The aim of the current study was to explore the mechanism of AS-associated fatigue (ASF) from multiple aspects, including neuropsychological changes.
Symptoms of the early stage may include lower back stiffness and pain, while those of the progressive stage can affect other parts of the body. A sign of the late stage involves the fusion of some of the bones in the spine.
HLA-B27 positivity alone is not life‑threatening. Most carriers never develop disease, but it increases risk for inflammatory conditions (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis, uveitis) that can cause chronic pain, functional problems, and rare complications if untreated. Early diagnosis and treatment lower risks.
If the joints in the chest around the rib cage also become stiff, the stiffness can limit how much the lungs can expand and make deep breathing more difficult. Other possible complications include: Eye inflammation, called uveitis. Uveitis is one of the most common complications of ankylosing spondylitis.
In an earlier study HLA-B27 was found to correlate with some subgroups of schizophrenia, having an increased incidence specially in the subgroup of patients with poor prognostic features.
AS can run in families, and the HLA-B27 gene variant can be inherited from another family member. If you have AS and tests show you carry the HLA-B27 gene variant then there is a 1 in 2 chance that you could pass on the gene variant to any children you have.
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene products have been implicated in the pathogenesis of an increasing number of eye diseases, mainly inflammatory in nature. This perspective reviews the current hypotheses for why HLA polymorphisms are associated with specific eye diseases.
Early eye symptoms of MS often involve optic neuritis, causing blurred vision, pain with eye movement, temporary vision loss (often in one eye), reduced color vision (especially reds), blind spots, or flickering lights; other common issues are double vision (diplopia) from uncoordinated eye muscles and involuntary rapid eye movements (nystagmus). These visual disturbances can be sudden, affect one eye more than the other, and may be the first noticeable sign of MS, but they aren't exclusive to it.
Some eye and visual symptoms and conditions including—but not limited to—blurry vision, visual distortions, eye pain, oscillopsia, gaze instability, eye tearing, dry eyes, optic neuropathy, macular degeneration, retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma could originate from structural neck issues [10].
Neurological Eye Disorders and Strabismus Symptoms