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Yellow-blue blindness: a B12 deficiency symptom ?

Cherylclaire profile image
CherylclaireForum Support
15 Replies

I have had problems with deteriorating eyesight in recent years, especially during dark winter evenings. Lately, it seems worse.

I can't paint in the winter. If I do, the next day I find that the colours are not as I saw them the night before. When I went for an eye-test, the optician said that this was due to yellowing of the lenses - a pre-cataract condition. So along with new glasses, I got a pair of prescription sunglasses because protection from sunshine can help slow down the effects of this condition.

I now find that I am differentiating between needles for self-injecting by size rather than colour. I use the green for drawing up and the blue for injecting. They are starting to look very similar to me, even during the day.

When leafing through a research paper today, Pernicious Anaemia and B12 Deficiency (2016)*, I found under the heading Presentation, the third point was "yellow-blue blindness can occur".

I had never noticed this being a listed symptom before.

Does anyone recognise this (or have had it recognised) as one of their symptoms ?

Is it worth a second opinion from another optician ?

* patient.info/doctor/pernici...

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15 Replies
deniseinmilden profile image
deniseinmilden

Really interesting and intriguing.

If my vitamins and minerals are out of balance/low then I get all sorts of problems seeing clearly. I'm very sensitive to colours and have had colour distortions too.

At the moment my guts are bad again and I've vertical double vision. It's not too bad for most things but all cars look like they've got front fog lights on as well as their main driving lights. I quite often have horizontal double vision (so cars look like they've got a row of four lights across the front) but I can usually semi correct that by squinting.

The last time I went to the opticians he used an orange filter to make things clearer for me but if I try to move about with coloured lenses it brings on a migraine and would make me sick if I persisted.

It makes sense really - our optical nerves are significant nerves and as B12 is so important to nerves it's bound to have an effect.

Cherylclaire profile image
CherylclaireForum Support in reply to deniseinmilden

Still find this so weird, don't you ?

At least my local Tesco no longer smells of raw sewage as soon as the automatic doors open.

Thanks for making it all sound so normal !

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply to deniseinmilden

I'd not seen this on a list of b12 deficiency symptoms either.Now of course 'jumping out'

I have had alot of visual problems though.

I also had some prescription coloured lenses made up after seeing a professor who had created a colour metre machine.

Created at The Essex University.

ProfessorW He's retired .

I after contacting the university was invited to email him directly.

He took a genuine interest .

I had to pay for examination and glasses.

At the time his colleague wasn't able to take on more patients.

It's grown since .

It was pinkvision on headway that researched so many things for vision because of his own problems.

Worth s look at his posts .

Different cause but some/ similar outcome.

Some conditions are reversible so an avenue worth exploring .

I was hoping for more from an Opthalmologist and eventually saw one at Queens in Romford on the NHS .

A referral worth asking for.

Usually starts with a hosputal optometrist who can do an initial assessment.

My optic nerve seemed okay

The profs works with children with dyslexia.

Also discovered theses lenses coujd also help migraine sufferers and many more.

I think it's worth getting a referral .

I think thr condition is called Tritanopes.

Some conditions are reversible.

Again look into supplements .

I took 'eyewise' and other I showed to the optician. Took them fir over 2 yesrs .

Was recently thinking about starting them again as vision is down.

Never ending is it

Hope you find some solutions to help.

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply to deniseinmilden

Interesting. I tried prescribed coloured lenses to try and get around the house with some lights on .

Also to try and stop the migrains/ headaches as knew artificial light a trigger as also affected my gait.

A stagger and nausea.

I also tried them fir this screen ( mobile)and attempted TV.

I coukd not wear them in a supermarket.

More helpful when stationary.

Unfortunately an expense worth trying but were soon discarded.

I do have reacterlight lenses .

Would struggle without them.

Tinnitus is my first sign my brain is struggling.

Sorry you having a tough time.

Wishing you some relief very soon.

deniseinmilden profile image
deniseinmilden in reply to Nackapan

Thank you for added insights - really interesting. I was particularly thinking of you when I wrote my comment and so was very grateful for your response.

Same here - the tinnitus is another barometer thing for my guts - as they get worse the noise gets louder and then my vision gets worse and then my tongue swells and splits, and so on. All a bit "unwanted"!

I was doing really well and just needed a couple more days of antibiotics to finish off the bad bugs... But last week could only get to speak to the incompetent GPs at my surgery (most are good/very good/excellent/phenomenal, but it's the luck of the draw) who don't understand antibiotic resistance.

They prevented me from having the essential treatment I needed to finish the course properly so everything has gone wrong again and additionally I now have every chance of having bugs with resistance to the only remaining standard antibiotic that was working.... with hopefully years ahead of me and the very high probability of getting the SIBO every 6 - 9 months... Oh joy!

She's OK though - she'll still work, get paid lots more than I ever will, won't suffer, etc! 👀 Like so many people here.

It's great to hear from you and thank you for your kindness and support!

All the best! x

Cherylclaire profile image
CherylclaireForum Support in reply to deniseinmilden

I really think that continuity of care is vital to anyone with complex chronic conditions.

My lovely GP left during covid , another highly-regarded GP there left around the same time - I think they are both now working in rapid diagnosis teams in hospitals.

A daunting prospect having to start all over again, over the phone, with someone I don't know at all . Or perhaps the GP I met once -who got my NHS injections stopped completely (no thanks ).

I have now managed to avoid contacting them for anything for two years.

deniseinmilden profile image
deniseinmilden in reply to Cherylclaire

It's sad when your aim in life has to be trying to avoid dealing with the health service under any circumstances!

I wish all the people who abuse their bodies would think more about it.

Cherylclaire profile image
CherylclaireForum Support in reply to deniseinmilden

Luckily, am still seeing Oral Medicine consultants, who bravely kept going throughout covid and beyond with face-to-face appointments.

So have had appointments, a nasendoscopy, saliva duct examinations and x-ray, a blood test - and currently seeking a salivary haptocorrin test (if such a thing exists).

Not giving up yet !

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply to Cherylclaire

I've had to deal with new 'management ' and new gps.The chosen one still there but has less clout and I think will retire soon,as very part time after deciding not to make a bid for the practice with her husband .

Can be daunting but a fresh look might be good for you .

Your eyes a 'new' symptom they can refer you for?

Not easy .

We all like continuity and familiarity.

Continuity saves so much time with a doctor

Doesn't seem to exist now 😕

Had to see a different dentist .

Im sticking with him now

Seen by chance at last 'emergency ' appt.

He said of course b12 deficiency affects your mouth and teeth !

Hope you take the plunge as a long wait even after referral made .

Initial eye clinic shouldnt be too long though .

The eye vitamins definitely worth a try .

Cherylclaire profile image
CherylclaireForum Support in reply to Nackapan

As usual, you are right.

I have even said before that you find help in the most unlikely places !

"Of course B12 deficiency affects your mouth and teeth " : wow.

That should not be jaw-dropping (think I'm going down a clivealive route here !)- but actually is.

Eye clinic worth looking into ( doing it again !), as whether it's pre-cataract condition or B12 deficiency, my art is definitely suffering !

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan

Your reply given to deniseinmilden !

shopgiejo.com/b12-deficienc...

Special reading bright desk/ room lights useful if lights are not a problem.

The kind that swivel to focus on an area .

My elderly mum has had one for years to knit .

My husband to 📚 read .( Not so old !)but has diabetes

I on the other hand dim everything including this screen removing the 'blue' light .

Cherylclaire profile image
CherylclaireForum Support in reply to Nackapan

No worries. A three-way chat is fine !

I went to H&B last week and was trying to read the vitamin/mineral content on various labels - just couldn't. Not because my very expensive glasses were letting me down. The lighting was just wrong (for me) - glaring spotights so either blinding light, reflection off glossy labels or pools of darkness.

Partner had no such problems, so does feel a bit B12-ish.

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply to Cherylclaire

I can't cope in that shop at all .As for labels of any sort.

Dependant on light .

Day!

Perhaps a full moon might help.

Very dependent on this small mobile screen to read .

Have progressed with paper big tone.

But labels!!

Must be the font and colour of background.

Shiny plastic impossible

Cherylclaire profile image
CherylclaireForum Support in reply to Nackapan

Days haven't been all that bright lately - today looking good !

I never had a problem with H&B before, so thinking this is me.

And you !

(Although, considering your start-point, I think you have made amazing progress)

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply to Cherylclaire

Yes to get there and into the shop in the first place. So right !

Horrible if new to you . Hopefully a blip

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