Common eye problems for people with kidney disease or who are on dialysis. Dry, red, and sore eyes that feel gritty. These symptoms may occur because of impaired blinking and tear formation, leading to dry eyes. Extra calcium and phosphate can also settle in the eyes and cause irritation.
Eye or Vision Problems with Kidney Disease
The result may be dry and irritated eyes. Kidney disease can also cause periorbital edema, which involves swelling around the eyes. Inefficient kidney function can cause a water imbalance, leading to the increased fluid around the eyes.
Changes to skin color—the buildup of toxins in your body, when your kidneys aren't filtering your blood as they should, can cause color changes to your skin. You may notice a gray or yellow hue to your skin, areas of darkened skin, or an unhealthy pale tone.
Reduced GFR is a red flag for six major complications in patients with CKD: acute kidney injury risk, resistant hypertension, metabolic abnormalities, adverse drug reactions, accelerated cardiovascular disease and progression to end-stage kidney disease.
Urine and blood tests are used to detect and monitor kidney disease. Currently, the key markers used include abnormal urine albumin levels and a persistent reduction in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
Some of the most common kidney pain symptoms include: A constant, dull ache in your back. Pain in your sides, under your rib cage or in your abdomen. Severe or sharp pain that comes in waves.
Light-brown or tea-colored urine can be a sign of kidney disease/failure or muscle breakdown.
Your kidneys remove extra fluids and salt from your body. When they can no longer do this, the fluids and salt build up in your body. This build-up causes swelling, which you may notice in your: Legs.
Itching with kidney disease can be generalized, or it can occur in specific parts of the body. Common areas for this type of itching include the head, arms, back, and abdomen. It also tends to be worse at night, which can disturb your sleep.
White streaks, also called Muehrcke's nails,⁷ are common in people with kidney disease. Muehrcke's nails are white streaks that run parallel to the knuckles of the fingernail. They form when there isn't enough blood flow to the nail bed.
Chronic kidney disease has long been tied to eye disorders, including retinopathy (diabetic and hypertensive), glaucoma and cataract. Researchers recently found a high prevalence of visual impairment and major eye diseases in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD)—and a strong association between the two.
Blood Tests. Because your kidneys remove waste, toxins, and extra fluid from the blood, a doctor will also use a blood test to check your kidney function. The blood tests will show how well your kidneys are doing their job and how quickly the waste is being removed.
Many people with ESRD who receive dialysis regularly or have a kidney transplant can often live long, healthy, active lives. The life expectancy for a person receiving dialysis is around 5–10 years, though many live for 20–30 years.
In Stage 1 CKD, the damage to your kidneys is mild. Your kidneys are still working well, but you may have signs of kidney damage or physical damage to your kidneys. Stage 1 CKD means you have a normal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 90 or greater, but there is protein in your urine (i.e., your pee).
In addition to back or side pain, another subtle symptom to look out for is muscle cramping. Kidney disease can cause various electrolyte imbalances, such as low calcium or high phosphorus levels. As a result, you may experience muscle pain or a pins-and-needles sensation in your arms and legs.
What does a rash from kidney disease look like? The rash from kidney disease can have white bumps on the fingertips and near joints. It could also produce raised dome-shaped nodules.
You will feel tired and weak because your body needs clean blood to function properly. Untreated uremia may lead to seizures or coma and will ultimately result in death. If your kidneys stop working completely, you will need to undergo dialysis or kidney transplant.
What tests do doctors use to diagnose and monitor kidney disease? a blood test that checks how well your kidneys are filtering your blood, called GFR. GFR stands for glomerular filtration rate. a urine test to check for albumin.
Kidney disease progresses at different rates for different people, and it can take between two and five years to pass between different stages.