Link between AF and Eyesight ?

Hi,

Following a successful cardioversion on the 2nd February I reverted back into persistent AF on the 22nd March.

My cardiologist put me back onto 2.5mg of Bisoprolol which keeps my resting heart rate at around 70 bpm although at times in can drop to 60.

Whilst in NSR I had to stop Bisoprolol completely as even on the lowest dose of 1.25mg it was pulling my resting heart rate down from its normal 50 bpm to 40 bpm. My cardiologist also said that he was not going to prescribe me any antiarrhymics like Flecainide as that would only lower my heart rate further..

I don’t have too many major problems being in persistent AF apart from my eyesight which seems to have deteriorated over the past few weeks, so my question is has anyone noticed a link between AF and their eyesight.

[BobD Volunteer]

None that I know of unless you are taking amiodarone.

[bassets]

Not as yet. Peraps you need to have this investigated? Best wishes.

[Hidden]

I have not read of any link between the two. As you have noticed a deterioration it would be advisable to have an eye examination as soon as possible.

[Crystalbowl]

I haven’t noticed any deterioration in my eyesight due to AF. I have recently had cataracts removed from both eyes and my long distance vision is such now that I no longer need glasses although I do still need them for reading. I have worn them for over 70 years so it is great to have something in my body working better than it was!

[Hidden in reply to Crystalbowl]

Hi,

Good to hear your cataract operation went well, not many parts of the body work better as you get older.

When I last went to my opticians he said it wouldn’t be long before I would need my cataracts removed, so maybe that may be part of the issue.

I assume you had them removed under the nhs, if so would you mind me asking what the waiting time was for the operation.

[Crystalbowl in reply to Hidden]

I go to SpecSavers and they suggested I could have the op just after we unlocked in 2020 but, being older, I didn’t want to be going to the hospital at that time. However, I discovered from various friends that they had been to a private organisation called Spa Medica so last year I asked about it when I had my annual sight test and they referred me. I can’t quite remember how long it was before I got an appointment for the pre-op assessment but only a few weeks I think. I then had to self isolate for 10 days before the op which I had last October for the right eye. When I went back to SpecSavers a few weeks later for my post-op exam the optician said he would refer me to get the left eye done if I wanted which I did as it had made quite a difference, particularly to colours and clarity. It probably took a similar amount of time to get that done which was on 28/2/22. Even though I no longer need them for distance vision, I have opted to have varifocals again as I feel lost without them. I did ask if I could just buy some readers but he said I needed prescription glasses for that. I also don’t want to be like most of my friends, either forgetting to bring their readers or rummaging through their bag to find them! It was a thoroughly good experience, very professional. I am in the NW England so don’t know where you are and if the same thing would apply for you but ask at your opticians to see what the situation is in your area.

[Hidden in reply to Crystalbowl]

Thank you for your response, it is most helpful.

I use Specsavers and have an appointment with them next week. I haven’t noticed any deterioration with colours, more a case of clarity so it will be interesting to see what the optician finds.

I live in Essex and Spa Medica have a number of places, the nearest to me is only about 14 miles away and has excellent reviews.

At least I now understand the process thanks to your help.

I can understand why you choose varifocal’s, I’ve worn glasses all my life so would follow the same path as little point keep putting reading glasses on and off.

Take care.

[Bagrat in reply to Crystalbowl]

Hidden Was going to ask if you were of an age to develop cararacts as mine came on v. quickly. I had my cataracts done at Spa medica. Think I waited 6 weeks for 1st Sep 20 and had second early Jan21. Excellent care although the "resting quietly after surgery with tea and biscuits turned into " follow me to discharge nurse" where my very high ( pure panic!!) BP had reduced to 170/ 70 and I was ushered out of the door about 15 mins after surgery complete. Still need varifocals as have bilateral astigmatism but transformed otherwise.

[Hidden in reply to Bagrat]

Hi,

Yes I have cataracts and you could be right that they may have progressed quickly of late. I have an opticians appointment booked for next week.

Glad your care at Spa Medica was good apart from the rush to show you the door at the end of the treatment. They have some excellent online reviews and others on this forum have spoke highly of them.

Glad your happy with the end result.

[Crystalbowl]

You might be surprised about the colours. I was. I have some fairly mad coloured walls in my house and have been quite surprised to find they are somewhat different than I previously thought. One I thought was red now seems to be a quite virulent shade of pink. Some clothing has changed too! As I am a wannabe artist, it affects that too.

[john-boy-92]

Some medication can cause blurry eyesight. The ACE inhibitor I'm taking at the moment warns that it may affect eyesight. In what way has your eyesight deteriorated? Minor strokes and TIAs affecting the rear of brain can cause hemianopia. I have right-side hemianopia with macula sparing.

[Hidden in reply to john-boy-92]

Hi john-boy, thank you for the response.

I don’t take an ACE inhibitors but do take Amlodipine (a calcium channel blocker) to reduce my blood pressure, but have been on that for a couple of years so don’t see that as an issue.

I read up on the conditions that you mentioned in your post but I do not have any problems with a reduced or restricted field of vision.

Generally all is fine when I get up in the morning, but after say reading for 5 minutes or so I find things start to become blurred.

I’ve managed to get an appointment with Specsavers this week so we shall see what they say, my concern is it’s only been about 15 months since my last change of prescription while normally they suggest a check up every 2 years.

[Desanthony in reply to Hidden]

My wife had fast growing cataracts at age 52. Had her normal eye exam in the January all fine tiny cataract seen in one eye. Told it would be years before it would affect her eyesight.

In the June had to get an emergency appointment as had blurry vision. By October had had 2 cataracts removed which had meant by August she could barely see.. The specialist she consulted with at beginning of July when booking her in for first operation on right eye said that by the time she had that done on the September the left eye - where they hadn’t even seen any sign of a cataract that January would be as bad as the right eye had become he was absolutely right. The operation was a revelation and she hasn’t worn glasses in the 10 years since - just starting to wear reading glasses again.

[john-boy-92]

Hi;

I was on amlodipine until about 6 months ago, when a GP (not my usual one) doubled the dose, causing my feet to swell. My usual GP immediately switched me to ramipril, and that has the possibility of blurred vision.

My hemianopia is not really apparent in the everyday, but shows up in an Esterman scan that Specsavers will probably cary out during your check up. Whilst it's not an issue in normal life, I have slightly less than 120 degress horizontal field of vision, and that means DVLA have revoked my Group 1 driving licence.