Improved Eyesight on IFN

[EPguy]

I've posted before on my improved sight since being on IFN. This is the eye chart test (near 20/20) and real life seeing road signs etc.

This improvement has been sustained so far even as I quit IFN two years ago and most else of my body deteriorates from my other condition. At 65 I don't need glasses for reading or driving.

When I started IFN I found room lights appeared super bright for a few days. This went away, but maybe has something to do with it.

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Have any other members found improved "visual acuity" with IFN?

[hunter5582]

I wish!!! My vision is getting worse due to cataracts progressing. This started before the IFNs. I have cataract surgery in my near future. Looking forward to it with a modicum of trepidation.

Glad to hear of at last one positive unanticipated outcome.

[EPguy in reply to hunter5582]

My eye Dr says I have early cataracts, about matching my age. So far I don't notice much, but I guess that good focus range I acquired will go away once that procedure happens.

[Whitehair51 in reply to hunter5582]

I had cataract surgery at 71 and got the high priced lenses. Surgery was easy but using drops for a month afterwards was a pain. No regrets! I don't need glasses for reading or distance. Driving at night is a little more challenging due to halos around headlights.

[EPguy in reply to Whitehair51]

Did the halos get any better after surgery? It's great to not need glasses, that new tech seems worth it.

[Whitehair51 in reply to EPguy]

Unfortunately, the halos have not gotten better, one side effect of these lenses, but the tradeoff in not having to wear glasses was worth it.

[Swim360 in reply to EPguy]

The halos go, I had to have cataract surgery to both eyes following detached retinas. The halos lasted for 3 months or so.

The surgery has been a huge success, I opted to have one lense for reading and one for distance and the results have been excellent. Took a little while for my eyes to adjust but my vision is now really really good 🙂

[RedCardRob in reply to hunter5582]

I have had both eyes done. I was short sight before and now have long sight lenses. I still need glasses for astigmatism though. The increase clarity can only be seen! (Soz!)It was seven years between each and a real pain in the brain to sort two focused images. They wouldn't do the second as it was in working order.

But my main observation, being an art and photography enthusiast, is the loss of the soft tones or the creamy type end if colours. I could only spot this because the seven year gap.

My MPN diagnosis was in between so cannot put this down as a contributing factor...however the previous posting about receiving the MPN condition from parents might come in because they both needed cataract ops. My blue eyed brother though has 20/20 vision.

[azaelea in reply to hunter5582]

Snap, Hunter! I too have deteriorating eyesight and was due for Cataract surgery which had to be cancelled when I caught bad Covid in August. As I haven’t been feeling great since then with one thing and another, I haven’t re-booked as yet. My sight is getting worse so will soon have to take the plunge. Wishing you a good outcome when you have your surgery. Fran

[Mishie14 in reply to hunter5582]

Highly recommend lens replacement using premium lens solution. I had to pay $2k extra per eye as the premium lens was considered ‘cosmetic,’ not medically necessary. Humpf. They were designed with 3 range of sight areas that mimic trifold glasses. My eye surgeon spent some time doing area mapping of both eyes to get the dimensions right. Fabulous solution. I do have to wear sun glasses now when rare bright sunshine prevails in cloudy Michigan. He offered though I declined to do the mostly robotic surgery with only topical anesthetic. It’s over in 15 min though had to arrive 30 min early and stay 45 min after because of twilight anesthetic. Unfortunately would not do both eyes in one session so had to repeat the process two weeks later. Apparently not an issue outside of US. Compared to BMB, this surgery is a cake walk! You will be fine.

[Whitehair51 in reply to Mishie14]

I did my second surgery with only the topical, no big deal and I felt much better afterwards

[Annula in reply to hunter5582]

Hi Hunter

My partner had both cataracts done - latest 2 weeks ago.Fabulous results & minimum discomfort afterwards..Lots of luck & wishing everyone a safe, healthy & happy xmas

[Ovidess]

Interesting! I just had my eyes checked, and they are staying pretty much the same since treatment began. The long vision, always good, got a bit stronger but I sure need reading glasses, and they are gradually needing to be stronger. I forgot to ask about the astigmatism. I'm thinking of taking some supplements for my retinas since I'm on Besremi, and I'm overdue for a specialist retina check I guess. Gotta do that in the new year to keep my t's crossed and i's dotted.

[EPguy in reply to Ovidess]

A shift in focus range that seems to be, maybe that's common with getting older. Good idea to keep up the eye Dr checks.

[RedCardRob in reply to Ovidess]

Just to note, once you have astigmatism, you'll always have it because of your eye shape.

[RoundTheWorld]

I think perhaps so. Only on one check but extended peripheral vision testing had improved. I’d had a (nasal side so didn’t affect me) patch of missed dots for a couple of years and this time I only missed two dots on the test. My eyes were 6/4 with glasses - Opthamology were happy to discharge me. I’m also noticing floaters less. Could be coincidental to being on interferon for 5-6 months but I’d wondered if that had made some difference.

Separately Clopidogrel resolved migraine aura so no visual arcs/patchiness for about a year and an half. Repeated patterns used to shimmer and move about a bit in my vision and I rarely notice anything like that now. It’s so refreshing to notice improvements.

I do have bothersome blurring, particularly after focussing on a close object for a while and this can persist for a while. That does seem to be dry eyes and for now drops are helping. It predated interferon but I know from here to watch and see if it worsens as a side effect. It was reassuring to have the eye check as I know my underlying eye health is good for now.

[saltmarsh]

Congrats. We'll take a win any way we can get it. I'm still on HU but IFN probably in the future. Good news for you

[EPguy in reply to saltmarsh]

IFN ended not good for me so a small left over + is nice.

[SoledadBarcelona]

No, in my case. My eres is getting worse with cataratas due to Interferon. Side effects. Thanks

[Bluetop]

Good to hear! I'm on hydroxy and blaming that on my deteriorating vision -both of my lenses and the fact I have cataracts developing, but optician didn't think the hydroxy was necessarily the cause.

[Hopetohelp]

as you know I stopped peg in August. Whilst on it had eye checkups each year and eye site remained the same. At 62 no deterioration and no glasses needed except for reading which got worse initially and stayed the same after first year on peg. Not sure about eyesight now as possibly things seem a little darker, not as much light?

[Carol0925]

I wish 😬

[Jamesxyz]

Wow.

That's a shocker.

A side effect listed with IFN is decreased vision.

Could somethimg else be going on with your eyes?

[EPguy in reply to Jamesxyz]

Could be. It is a correlation vs clear cause. But the events and timing (improved over a till- then long stable state shortly after starting) suggest a connection.

I agree most sides or off target effects for all our drugs are minuses.

[Jamesxyz in reply to EPguy]

Anyway whatever the cause, it's a plus for you.

you've certainly suffered enousgh.

Stay well.

[EPguy in reply to Jamesxyz]

From replies here and misc reports, my correlation/effect is a one off. I wonder if it has any other prognostic value.

Thanks for the thoughts.

[Mishie14]

no, the opposite. Been on peginterferon for 18 months. When dose increased to 90 mcg weekly from 68 mcg weekly, I had occasional blurry distance vision. Happened regularly upon awaking and later at night watching TV. Eye doctor has been checking every 6 months for possible IFN side effect and nothing shows up. Taking once daily Preservision supplement for eye health. Have 20/20 vision at 74 years. No explanation for blurry distance that persists occasionally in doors and in particular in bright sun outdoors.

[EPguy]

It's surprising how may here have/had cataracts, including starting for me. Could be part of being 60sh + for many, more than any particular med. Bes label has 6% with cataracts, but maybe it is just reflecting the population rates in the table here.

nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye...

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It seems the new lens tech is good if pricey.