Just another notch in the “how crazy is B12” totem pole.
I just got back from an optometrist appt which I had booked because, after updating my prescription in May, I now cannot wear these new glasses (one for reading and one for long distance/driving). The new lenses were giving me vertigo, nausea and headaches.
I ended up seeing the same optometrist as last time and she had to run the vision tests twice because she couldn’t believe the changes.
So my reading lenses need to be changed back to my 2021 prescription (a really slight prescription) and my long distance vision has tested at the highest level, so those glasses are completely useless.
She kept muttering “but why?” And I replied that the only thing that had changed was my frequent B12 injections. She stared at me and said “b12? I don’t know much. Do you mind if I look it up and ask you a few questions because this is incredible.”
After a quick Dr Google (I had to laugh) and questions, I could see the cogs turning in her head. I pointed out the injection schedule that I’m on is for neurological symptoms, and asked if she agreed that eyesight changes were neurological, which she did. She’s sending a letter to my GP to add to my file (my request. I’m documenting bloody everything these days!)
I think there’ll be a research paper in her future for B12 and the implications on eyesight.
As for me, I’m just enjoying driving and reading hassle-free!
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PlatypusProfit8077
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Hey Platypus, that's great news! I saw the optician just after my deficiency diagnosis as I'd read about possible optic nerve degeneration, and some anomalies had been noticed on my latest back-of-eye photos. I felt there was always a blurriness and lack of focus in my sight. I was referred for more tests, all seemed pretty ok as I could read the second to last row of letters with some squinting and errors, but they wanted a follow up in 3 months.
Three months later with B12 injections every 2/3 days I read to the very last letter of the chart without hesitating! The specialist and I both looked at each other in surprise, he was "well I don't think you need to come back..!"
I was very excited, he was less excited than your lovely optician. I told my GP it was proof the B12 was working, and got one of his 'looks' 🙄 Little wins!
Now I recognise the blurriness as an early warning sign that I've overreached myself. Hope your optician writes that paper!
I think it was serendipitous that the same person did both of my tests. So she really did know the difference was remarkable.
Like my GP who did the original strength test when I first presented and didn’t think the weakness was so terrible. And then when she checked in the last appointment (after I started SI), she was so startled at the difference.
It’s why continuity of care is so valuable. When it works well, it’s amazing.
I think, for B12 deficiency -related symptoms, continuity of primary care (GP) is essential. One medical professional as witness to the whole, from presentation to the optimum treatment regime, beneficial to both patient and doctor - and future patients. Perhaps even surgery practice.
What a wonderful life-changer correct treatment can be - really happy for you, Platypus !
here’s another shocker than I’m personally still reeling about, I had trouble with my vision and had a 3d scan done,it showed i had a huge macular hole in my eye ,I saw it on the screen, so she referred me straight away said id need surgery as it was pretty big so shouldn’t be too long a wait,two years down the line I’ve not had that surgery, I went to the consultant at a local hospital had another scan done and more tests and this time I now have macular holes in both eyes,one full width one not I also had bilateral cataracts.
He lied to my gp on the report said I wasn’t keen on treatment and it would be a watch and wait for 4 months ,I never said that at all I just said I wasn’t keen on where he was sending me for surgery as I didn’t know the area and how was I meant to get there and why couldn’t I go locally. There are at least three hospitals surrounding my area that I could have been referred to for surgery..
Anyway 4 months pass I phone and politely request a follow up appointment as promised, I saw a different consultant,this one says to me have you seen your previous 3d scan I said no not the last one,so he says let’s do another one..I have the scan done he then tells me I have NO macular holes in either eye I have 20-20 vision and therefore he’s discharging me back to gp. I’m in shock so have no idea what’s going on or what questions I should be asking so I leave feeling a bit of a fraud
When I get my copy of the gp letter it says a completely different version of my eye exam, it says I now have left eye epiretinal membrane with lamellar macular hole and no hole in right eye and of course 20-20 vision. He said no surgery is required..
I find it hard to believe that I suddenly have perfect vision and no longer need surgery at my age , I’m going to have another private 3d scan done next week and then I can discuss with a new optician what’s going on. Be very surprising if it’s anything to do with b12 shots as I’ve been doing this a number of years now but somethings causing changes if indeed things are as they say at the hospital. Strange one isn’t it.
Yes my eyesight has def improved I can see better than I could ever see,I got my first glasses at age 15 as I was so short sighted ,I then noticed around age 40 I became more long sighted and then a few years ago started to lose my vision like in the supermarket or out shopping,it suddenly became very distorted where I could only see wavy lines and terrified me and that’s when opticiontold me I had a full width macular hole and said I needed surgery, I had been njecting b12 around 3 years by then,now all of a sudden my eyesight has improved although I can still feel the cataracts but I really can’t say for sure the improvements had anything to do with b12, I’ll update after I have another scan and chat with optician. Best of luck with your own eye stuff it’s scary when your eyes are effected for years then suddenly your told how good they are,it’s def a strange scenario..x
Just for interest, I know that hypothyroidism can have a similarly profound impact on vision. Including loss of colour vision. And massive improvement when adequately dosed with thyroid hormone(s).
Though have not seen anything like same recognition by eye people of thyroid being any sort of a factor. (Except Thyroid Eye Disease/Graves' Ophthalmopathy.)
Wow that's amazing thank you for sharing your experience I hadn't realized the implications for eye sight with B12 deficiency. Looking forward to reading the opticians research paper if they ever publish it. My eyes twitch but reduced after finally being diagnosed & getting injections for PA.
I don’t know if she will end up writing a paper (maybe I will!) but it was nice to see someone open to learning something new and about B12, no less!
I had noticed some changes since changing to EOD but hadn’t realised how much, and also didn’t want to get my hopes up (I thought I’d still need both types of lenses but maybe just lesser prescriptions).
Hello, just wondering about your B12 injection schedule and whether you self inject or not. Also how long have you been on this schedule? Sounds amazing! Thank you!
Hello! Yes I manage my injections at home. I inject every 48hrs (around 9pm at night because I get tired and therefore sleep well after an injection).
I’ve been on this schedule for just over a month. Before I was on the doctor’s schedule of 3 loading doses over 3 weeks and then one per month. Which was awful.
Yes it could be, but my optometrist advertises that any change in prescription within the 3 months after receiving new glasses is covered by them. So this time, I’m home free and got a nice receipt saying $0.00
That’s good. In the U.K. the repeat test would be free but not replacement glasses/lenses. With varifocals lenses the cost can be averaging £170! (Adult, not excessive frame choice).
Your post makes sense to me, as this is so similar to what I believe. GP referred me to eye consultant after me complaining I needed more B12 because of my eyesight. Of course, she didn't believe me, but the consultant agreed, my foggy vision was caused by low B12. My optician has always been aware of the B12 issue too.
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