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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / August 2006feel like i'm losing my vision
my eyes were dry and irritated when i went to the ophthalmologist for my annual checkup back in early april. she gave me restatis drops (for dryness) and elestat drops (allergy). i have crummy vision, especially in my left eye where i have a small cataract from prednisone use, and all my life, my glasses prescription has changed yearly. so there was a slight change, but not enough to get new glasses. i continued to have problems with irritation and went back numerous times. in the last three weeks, the vision in my left eye has gotten dramatically worse. very blurry. she took me off the drops and tried dissolvable punctal plugs, which i don't think really helped. meanwhile, my vision grew blurrier. i saw her yesterday and she thinks it's the cataract getting "denser". i don't know what to think. i've never had a change in my eyes this rapid. she agrees they've gotten significantly worse in just a few weeks time and i have to get new glasses big time. anyhow, is this how cataracts work? i thought they darkened your vision, not made it blurry? i'm getting a little freaked by all this. diane >anyhow, is this how cataracts work? i thought they darkened your >vision, not made it blurry? i'm getting a little freaked by all this. > >diane Diane, I have heard people describe it as looking through a dirty window or plexi-glass, where everything looks like it is behind a film. I think that blurry would describe it better than a darkening of the visual field. Rose @}->-- Being educated means that rather than fearing the unknown, one seeks to undrestand it. Please remove "Ima" to reply. Rose, My father had severe cataracts and he always described as looking through shattered glass. Love and prayers, Vickie B. >Rose, > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >Vickie B. Hi Vickie, That would make sense. I have cataracts, but so far the only problem I have experienced is an inability to focus, especially in my right eye, the one most affected. In my case too it is as a result of prednisone combined with heredity. My mom and aunt both have had cataract surgery. When I had my most recent eye exam, the optometrist's attitude seemed to be that surgery for cataracts is so good now and the lens they implant can correct vision problems. It is not something that I am really looking forward to though. Rose @}->-- Being educated means that rather than fearing the unknown, one seeks to understand it. Please remove "Ima" to reply. My cataract caused everything to be fuzzy. The thing that scared me most was that all beige cars just disappeared. I could see every other color but beige. I finally gave up any driving at night the last 3 months before the surgery. Too scary. Is the doctor you are seeing a specialist in autoimmune eye stuff? Are you sure it is a cataract and not iritis or something really awful like what my mother has like wet macular. My doctor did not suggest new glasses until after cataract surgery. He said it would be no point and expensive to boot. Is the other eye not picking up the slack? Duckie > my eyes were dry and irritated when i went to the ophthalmologist for > my annual checkup back in early april. she gave me restatis drops (for [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > diane I agree that it is pretty scary. Pred caused a cataract in my left eye many years ago. It got so bad that while driving, if I put my hand over my right eye, I couldn't see cars within 10 feet of me. Between the time it was dx and I had the surgery, (a few months), it had dramatically worsened. The surgery was a snap and recovery easy, I was back at work in two days. It is by far my stronger eye now. Good luck Lyn I had cataracts removed from both eyes caused by prednisone and probably a lot of years of smoking. Surgery was very easy. wore a patch for one day and night and then was all set. I had them done about a month apart. Went back later for laser surgery on the second eye. Symptoms in one eye was a fuzziness that I liken to looking through a dirty window. No symptoms in second eye. Now I don't have to wear the glasses I used for driving and theater. Never did wear reading glasses so I am very lucky. I was afraid of the surgery, but our Gwen told me how easy it was and gave me confidence. Ann Diane: I have Sjogren's (and it still seems many docs don't take it seriously). Restasis was terrible for me. Try OTC ointment (Lacrilube or something for night). Try Endura Refresh singles/non-preserved for a while in the daytime and see if it helps. I'm doing something with my eyes 24/7. Jan O' > my eyes were dry and irritated when i went to the ophthalmologist for > my annual checkup back in early april. she gave me restatis drops (for [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > diane thanks for the input, everyone. i guess i will get this new glasses prescription filled and if my eyes keep worsening, i might get a second opinion. oh, by the way, she recommends flax seed oil for dry eyes. i'm supposed to take it for six weeks now instead of the restasis and see how that works. thera tears has a bottle of them marketed for eyes, but she said any brand will do. diane Dont have any advice Diane, but wanted you to know I was keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Are eyes are so important to us.  SignatureLove and hugs Jo (\__/) .~ ~. )) /O O ./ .' {O__, \ { / . . ) \ |-| '-' \ } )) Warning: squirrels. .( _( )_.' '---.~_ _ _& > my eyes were dry and irritated when i went to the ophthalmologist for > my annual checkup back in early april. she gave me restatis drops (for [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > diane Diane, It sounds like it might be time for a second opinion. debbie m. > my eyes were dry and irritated when i went to the ophthalmologist for > my annual checkup back in early april. she gave me restatis drops (for [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > diane ((((((((((Diane))))))) I like Duckie's suggestion - make sure you're dealing with someone who understands the complications of RA and eyes well. It'd really suck if something else is going on with the dryness and irritation and it isn't being treated. No experience with cataracts myself, except all the many folks I know who've had the op came through it swimmingly. SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare i agree this is pretty scary. Hope they come up with some answers soon. The ophthalmologist did tell me that I would need cataract surgery sooner than most people because of the prednisone but that would give me great vision. So far no sign of cataracts so that is good. The irritation and blurry vission is so hard though. No answers just hugs and understanding. Hope those answers come soon. Kelly in Canada > my eyes were dry and irritated when i went to the ophthalmologist for > my annual checkup back in early april. she gave me restatis drops (for [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > diane |
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