Is anyone else having vision/eye problems... - Cure Parkinson's

Cure Parkinson's

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Is anyone else having vision/eye problems? My eyes are very dry and have a hard time focusing as well as being very tired.

Koko profile image
Koko
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Koko
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41 Replies
ronn profile image
ronn

Yes,,,,,,,blurred/double vision, tired eyes, depth perception problems. The eye specialists who tested my eyes and fitted my glasses seemed unaware of any vision issues with PD, promised 20/20 vision in the right eye but were unable to deliver. I'm convinced it is PD related.

Landry profile image
Landry in reply to ronn

Have eye doctor check you out and ask him about usiing sodium chloride 5%. Worked great for me.

ram927 profile image
ram927

I've had same problems with my eyes blurry double vision had lens implant which clear up problems now have 20/20 + vision in both eyes cost was about $5k each eye but covered

by insurance

wordworks2001 profile image
wordworks2001

I am noticing some blurred vision when I read. I was always near-sighted and could see well close up. Guess I am overdue to see the eye doc.

maryalice profile image
maryalice

My eye doctor told me that a lot of people with PD have vision problems. She said that PD patients don't blink as much as they should and that's what causes the dry eyes. If you google Parkinson's Recovery Radio Show there are a few interesting shows that might help you.

Blessings.

Koko profile image
Koko in reply to maryalice

Thank you all. AS I think about it I don't blink as much. THe dryness is annoying and can be painful.

Kathlene profile image
Kathlene

my eyes are dry and gritty all the time. the eye doctor told me it was common also. she recommended a specific eye drop called Systane. it's got a thicker consistancy than most eye drops but it stings a bit when i put the drops in. it's also a little more expensive. BUT i was going through the regular bottles too fast. with the Systane i find that a bottle lasts a lot longer. also, because my eyes get so blood shot due to the dryness, i find a cold compress really soothing. drinking more water to combat dehydration helps too. i drink less water in winter so most of my hydration comes from my favorite herbal tea. the eye doctor also mentioned that PwP get cataracts more often and more quickly than other folks. sure enough, i'm 49 and i have one. just waiting for it to get bad enough before surgery.

ram927 profile image
ram927 in reply to Kathlene

don't wait in two weeks I went from blurry double vision to 20/20 vision

a little expensive but covered with insurance no more glasses to read eyes great

Pete-1 profile image
Pete-1 in reply to ram927

I have very bad eye convergence (leading to double vision) problem. What treatment have you had that cleared your double vision?

PatV profile image
PatV in reply to Kathlene

Now I find this out. I've been cursing out my glasses maker for last year and a half only to find out I have a cataract! Only one eye tho :( My previous specs had the glare prevention which made them seem greasy, so I asked for it not to be on last pair. Guess what. The glare was killing me--couldn't go out at night because of headlights. Fortunately I had a banged up pair of my old specs with the glare coating. Thanks!

Koko profile image
Koko in reply to PatV

YEs! Any kind of light bothers me a lot..I wear sunglasses often. I guess it fits into Southern California attire but I;d rather be seeing life as it is.:)

Eileen9 profile image
Eileen9 in reply to Kathlene

My eyes also get dry and feel gritty. My vision is blurry when reading. I find that Ststane helps me too.

Koko profile image
Koko in reply to Eileen9

I have had to cut down on my reading. Thanks for sharing.

jillannf6 profile image
jillannf6

Hi id have PSP and v dry eyes are common

Lack of blinking eyes clawing a loot worse when I use the computer as staring at the screen has the same problem

Lol Jill

Ps i use drops

fishwife profile image
fishwife

My vision was never perfect, but serious problems with blurring, double vision, and pressure behind my eye. Just figure it's more surprises from my PD.

jjmoore profile image
jjmoore

You said that you get very tired. My husband with pd gets what he calls heavy eyes. He just cannot keep them open and so it looks to me as if he is always asleep - which by the way he is quite a lot of the time. Joan

Koko profile image
Koko in reply to jjmoore

I have an eye on my most affected side that closes when I am tired. THe only way I can open it is with my fingers.If that doesn't look funny!

fishinggirl profile image
fishinggirl in reply to jjmoore

I know what your husband is going through. At times during the day, all of a sudden my lids get heavy and my eyes get blurry and I want to go to bed. But I'm not sleepy when it happens. I think my eyes are just telling me to take a break.

driller profile image
driller

Good Morning from Florida, Yes I have Eye problems like you, not sure why could it be the meds I am going to asl my DR. this month.

Regards;

ERIC

ram927 profile image
ram927

cataract surgery replaced with lens that allows both near and far vision. Depth perception better but with PD my inter balance is affected(yoga and palante) but color and blurry and double vision corrected Think lens called living Lens effects were immediately surgery lasted about 10 minutes cost was about $2200 per eye over what Medecad/Medecare pays but worth it other option is one eye set to far vision and the other set to near vision cove ed at $0 cos to you

jonroberts profile image
jonroberts

I have macular degeneration in my left eye. Was diagnosed 2 years ago. Had injection of medicine last month. No improvement. I have the wet eye AMD. Next appt on the 19. My PD is worse on my left side. I've been told no connection to PD. I'll discuss with my PS specialist on the 14th. I cannot see the E when my right eye covered. Only see blur from left eye. I think PD related. Any suggestions? I'm 59.

Joanne_Joyce profile image
Joanne_Joyce

I had similar problems until I changed my PD medication. It could be a side effect of medication.

Koko profile image
Koko in reply to Joanne_Joyce

Were you able to detect which medication it was?

Joanne_Joyce profile image
Joanne_Joyce in reply to Koko

It was Amantadine

ecrandell profile image
ecrandell

I have extremely dry eyes. My opthomologist perscribed Ristasis but 'I could not tak it. The temporary burning sensation continued throughout the entire time I took it. So now I take Systane and celluviisc several times a day. It works well. Unfortunately, that condition is exasorbated by the Bletharospasnm I have in my eyes, I have botox injections for this condition every 3 mos.

Both conditions are attributed to PD. The dry eye because I don't blink as frequently as I should.Goo Luck to you. I hope this information is helpful.

judam9 profile image
judam9

all this sure is, i have had dry eyes and double vision for more years then when the PD was first diagnosed . i was watching a robin out the front window pulling out a worm, and then i saw another, in perfect silent cadence. i was rather amused how they did so well at the same time. really amazed. i was looking side ways, when i looked straight , the second bird was gone. then i realized it was double vision, i told my neurologist about it and also my GP, and the eye specialist , and no one ever commented on it. so i never knew what was causing it. now i know. i can't drive because my depth perception is wrong. and haven't a clue how fast someone is coming.

well thanks you all, i guess that many things are caused by PD. that we never realized. i couldn't even back out of the driveway any more, because i kept turning toward the house and the gas meter.

WayneP profile image
WayneP

My vision is as being affected by this PD we have. I have noticed of late and am curious if anyone else has noticed but my vision gets worse as meds wear off. I can really notice a difference as my sight just get worse but when meds kick back in so does my sight. Very strange to me.

Anyone else?

Wayne

See an Opthomologist and if he says you should, see a Neuro-Optho! I had to before they would do cataract surgery! I had left eye done last August and the right eye done in October! 20/20 vision in both eyes! The surgery is a piece of cake! No Pain and home in three- four hours! Now I need readers for close up! And with the readers I now have 20/20! I can get glasses that are bifocals if I want to, but have not done that yet! Sometimes it is a bother having to have the readers on the end of my nose, or putting them off and on! But I do have a prescription if I want glasses! Cataracts are common with PD! Hope this is helpful.

Blessings,

Carol

FeeNad profile image
FeeNad

I was diagnosed with PD in April of this year. Last year I had an unusual case of dry eye and my eye doctor thought it strange as I was only 48 at the time. I was given drops, no longer able to wear contacts,and started wearing my glasses again. After the April diagnosis, I started noticing that the center of anything I was looking at (book, television, iPad) was blurry and eventually became blank. I went back to the eye doc and she determined that I was having divergence insufficiency, due to the PD. prisms were put in my lenses and not only did the issue correct itself, strain and neck pain went away. I hope this helps

Koko profile image
Koko

Once again thank you all for the input it has been most helpful.

Barbie18 profile image
Barbie18

I am so greatfull for seeing all these answers.because i have been having problems a lot lately with my eyes and i have been putting it down to the fact that i wear contact lenses.My optician gave me a letter for my doctor to be able to get Systane on precription as he said it is very expensive to buy, the drops are helping but i still think there could be a better solution but we all have to suffer in silence at least for the time being we hope love to you all

margie profile image
margie

I was told by my eye doctor, to wash my eyelids with .baby shampoo each night to remove any bacteria, dust and etc,, I was getting styes often.. The doctor told me with PD, we should use an eye lubricant such as Systane several time.s a day, especailly before bed. I can no longer read books, or magazines, but I read on the computer or the Kindle. This is quite common with PD., per my Doctor.

Koko profile image
Koko in reply to margie

Good to know Margie, thank you for your help.

honeycombe3 profile image
honeycombe3

I use the spray(s) that pass through the eyelid for dry eye but a consultant opthalmologist I saw after a road traffic accident said that as PD affects the muscles elsewhere in the body it can also affect those in the eyes. I found changing to contact lenses a big step forward (bad pun). I had been wearing varifocal specs for some years & when dxd & in the falling stage I'm certain they contributed to errors in my visual perception especially looking straight down as on steps or sideways as at road junctions. This is a knock-on effect as when you fall you lose confidence .....etc, etc.

Barbie18 profile image
Barbie18 in reply to honeycombe3

Hi honeycombe3 how long have you worn contacts,i have been wearing mine for at least twenty years,was diagnosed for pd four years ago and now i am having really bad problems with my eyes i use the type that you can wear to sleep in.I am glad to find out this is a pd problem as i thought it was my contacts causing problems so i am now wondering whether to start wearing glasses again not sure what to do

Hikoi profile image
Hikoi

I have had vision problems too and like you Wayne my eyesight improves with meds. I came across this information sheet which gives an excellent summary of the different types of eye problems, some caused by Parkinsons and some brought on by meds. It begins:

Parkinson’s disease is a condition that mainly affects movement, but some people can also experience difficulties with their eyes. These may become more common as Parkinson’s progresses.

The most commonly reported problems are blurred vision, double vision, excessive watering of the eyes and dry eyes, but sometimes the problems can be less specific, such as a general difficulty with reading. As with many other aspects of Parkinson’s, these problems may be exacerbated by fatigue.

You can read the rest here if interested.

parkinsons.org.uk/Docs/is_e...

bmakla54 profile image
bmakla54

I too had vision problems, especially reading for long periods. However, since I have started

LDN, I can read books again without getting tired after 10 pages or so.

LEXIANDREW profile image
LEXIANDREW

I was also told my dry eyes were from the amantadine and was put on Restasis eye drops along with OTC drops but ones with no perservatives as they cause a build up effect and worsens your vision.

Dennis profile image
Dennis

I went to the doctor this week. He said the problems with my eyes was "DRY EYES" and it ils one of the things Parkinson's causes. First he gave me medication of some type of drops for two weeks and then 4 times a day just "tears" over the counter. After putting in the drops blink my eyes rather fast so the tears spread over then eye. ~~~ Dennis

Koko profile image
Koko in reply to Dennis

Thanks

ZIBI12 profile image
ZIBI12

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