Reading Difficulties

[Whitegoose]

Hi all, I have wet AMD in left eye and dry in the other, I’ve been having Eyelea injections for 18 months, I am noticing my reading is getting harder to see, especially any text in blue. Does AMD affect your overall vision, my dry AMD eye visually is normally quite good. Would you mention the overall vision loss to your consultant or is it normal with this complaint.

[ironbrain]

I have a Snellen eye test every time I go, so as for whether you should ask the consultant ...

I got 6 more letters last time in the eye I've had treated with Eylea – quite some improvement.

I lost quite a bit of both colour and acuity from CNV/AMD. I think it's only to be expected with the retina being pushed up and away from what it connects to (and presumably decreasing the distance between the retina and the lens).

[Whitegoose in reply to ironbrain]

Thank you ironbrain, I have an eye test & scan every 2 months I have stopped driving now, although I was told I could drive only 6 weeks ago, I suddenly have difficulty reading signs until I’m literally on top of them. I’ll ask at my next injection appointment, I might add, this has happened in the last 2-3 weeks. I’ve stopped driving just in case I have or cause an accident.

[Rosalyn-helpline Partner]

Dear Whitegoose,

Please contact us at the Macular Society Advice and Information service.

We are open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday on 0300 3030 111.

It may be easier to discuss your concerns over the phone.

Alternately, you can contact us via:

[e-mail]

Kind regards,

[Whitegoose in reply to Rosalyn-helpline]

Thank you, will do.

[Bobbie915]

I have wet AMD in both eyes. The first colour loss I had was blue. Unfortunately a number of web sites use blue text!! I have never been told not to drive but I know it would be madness for me to sit behind the wheel.

[Whitegoose]

Hello Bobbie, thank you for replying. I’m glad you have confirmed about the colour loss. I work in a Library as a volunteer, and I was on the computer, our search catalogue is in blue text, so I have now given up the computer work. I’m still a volunteer, but in a different role.

[ColWi in reply to Whitegoose]

Hi I have a really hard time reading anything in that color wave as well. You might ask if they have an option on that cmputer where you can invert the page so the background is black and the writing is white. I know that helps me a lot. I also have a cover skin on my keyboard that is yellow with big letters that really helps for typing. SOmeone sugested it on this site. I am so glad they did I had never heard about them before. Because it is a skin. You could put it on and take it off when ever you are working or not.

[thom3patty]

I get injections of eyelea for macular odema and I have a hard time with certain colors esp like yellow wonder if it’s a side affect of shots?

[Whitegoose]

Hi thom3patty, I know we are all different, from what I’m reading, it’s normal for some colour loss as the diesease progresses. I don’t think it’s from the injections. I’m having another injection soon, so I’m going to ask when I go.I will again post when I have the their answer.

[thom3patty in reply to Whitegoose]

Thank you!

[Eyeproblems]

I have had lucentis injection and now having eyelea injections which seem to help me more. Yes colours do go with AMD, it's the condition not the jabs. Green isn't green for me anymore, just a washed out colour blue is ok still. Guess we all vary!! I'm still driving but only local short journeys.

[Whitegoose in reply to Eyeproblems]

Hi Eyeproblems, I know it’s the AMD and not the jabs, but I think Eyelea injections are helping me a lot. I must admit every morning, I use my Amsler grid to check my other eye that has the dry form. I dread that day when it goes wet. Anyway at least we are being looked after. With driving, I’ve just lost my confidence, to many what ifs in my brain. x

[Eyeproblems in reply to Whitegoose]

Hi white goose. Thanks for the reply. I to have wet in one eye and dry in the other and also dread the dry turning to wet. I'm always checking as well. Eyelea definately seems good, am due a check up tomorrow, so hoping there is still no leakage and I can go another two months between check ups. I've been very lucky and haven't had an injection since last June, the longest gap ever. Yes we are lucky with the treatment we are getting, not so long ago they could do nothing and people went blind quite quickly.

Hope your next check up/injection goes well.

[Whitegoose in reply to Eyeproblems]

Are you in the UK, I have injections every 2 months, my next one is on the 10th. In 18 months I have only had one serious bleed. They gave me an extra injection, which cleared it up eventually. We are lucky to have this help.

[Eyeproblems in reply to Whitegoose]

I started treatment in the UK but now attend a private clinic in Limassol, Cyprus . Being a pensioner I have qualified for a Cypriot medical card and my consultant applied for assistance with the costs of injections and checkups and have been awarded help for 3 injections and following check ups, so I don't have to pay the full price of €825 per injection that I did in the beginning. Have just had a check up today and all fine, next check up in two months time. I am finding eyelea works better for me than the Lucentis did.

[Whitegoose in reply to Eyeproblems]

Hello Eyeproblems, how interesting about your help with payments, I too am a pensioner and get it free on the nhs. We lived in Spain for 9 yrs, but we paid into the Spanish system. Their health care is very good, and any health problems were dealt with. We are thinking of going abroad for the winter 3-4months, but with the uncertainty of Brexit, we may put it off, because we could not afford the injection costs etc. We shall wait and see.

[Emelinep]

Sometimes yellow turns pink for me

[Whitegoose in reply to Emelinep]

Hello Emeline, it seems everyone is different with colours. I’m hoping it’s a gradual loss. Mine has started with light blue.

[Catseyes235]

I would look for answers from your consultant but as I have said to others I always forget to ask as just getting past the injection is enough plus the medics are all very busy. I really need to set a reminder to do so. It’s certainly not straightforward when it comes to cause and effect! Colour perception, distortions, shadowing .... who knows what is related? I now have almost 20:20 vision since treatment started and can read well down the chart so now my dry has turned to wet in other eye I get the cheaper Avastin. However I now need stronger reading glasses.

If you get any answers please do share!

[Whitegoose in reply to Catseyes235]

Hello Catseyes, sorry that you have wet in your other eye, I too never see a consultant after any regular scans to discuss with them my progress. But they have been brilliant if I ring to say I’ve had a bleed. I get an appointment immediately.

[ColWi]

Blue is hard for me to see as well. If you have a Mac you can change the background black and have white print. My eyes are getting worse as well to read. Sorry about what you are going through. My heart goes out to you.

[Whitegoose in reply to ColWi]

Thank you ColWi, ihavean ipad, ill see if it has that function. I’ll try that and thank you for your concern.

[oldoakowl]

I have trouble seeing black with my good eye. It has faded to grey, making it difficult to read. My doctor said that there are rods and cones all over the retina and they all get damaged. Since they are concentrated in the center, that is where you get the most vision loss.

Oddly enough, dry MD progressed faster in the eye that has only (so far!) mild wet MD.

I have found that my brain averages things (for the better) with distant vision, but adds the deficits for close-up work on the computer or reading print.