Forget blood tests, go to the optician!

[Oneash]

nature.com/articles/s41433-...

This is an interesting article. Obviously NICE has changed since. But I appreciate the observation...

"Current NICE guidance appears to be obsolete and should be used with caution. Vitamin B12 deficiency manifests as a wide range of neurological deficits and symptoms before any effect is seen on haematological markers. Patients with neurological symptoms or signs such as new pupil abnormalities, eye pain, cranial nerve palsies, nystagmus, visual field defects, tinnitus, paraesthesia or neuralgia should be screened for B12 deficiency."

[Nackapan]

Yes I had plenty of optician appointments as vision greatly affected. Couldn't wear prescription.

Could cope with vari focus unless short vision dropped .

Noone suggested a B12 test

[Cherylclaire Forum Support in reply to Nackapan]

I remember once going to the local optician as my eyesight was worsening and blurry - and had a really good one who added "B12 deficiency" to my records, showed me on-screen photos of eye damage due to B12 deficiency then tested back of eyes to assure me that this was not what was happening to my eyes. Sadly, he must have moved on, as I never saw him again.

I have noticed since that I need more light than previously. If I try to paint in the evenings, I discover the next morning that the colours are wrong, blue and green difficult. This is why I did not find it easy to distinguish between drawing-up and injecting needles in the evenings, too - so sticking to a.m. for that !

The last eye test I had, where I discussed this problem, I was told that this was because of yellowing of the lens, a pre-cataract condition. Advised to buy prescription sunglasses as well as the usual - both varifocals.

I later by chance found a list of symptoms for B12 deficiency that actually listed blue/green colour confusion .

So could be either. Both sounded feasible.

[Oneash in reply to Cherylclaire]

I've had pre cataract warnings prior to the B12 getting chronic.I've told them obviously about needing B12 and that resulted in extra dazzling light probing!!

I just think it's another avenue for the Pernicious Anemia Society to get information out to.

[Cherylclaire Forum Support in reply to Oneash]

Yes - hard to know what to wish for, isn't it - or prepare for ?

[Nackapan in reply to Oneash]

My daughter had pre cataracts seen at an early age and was under the hospital for 2 years of monitoring. It felt so odd sitting with a young child amongst the elderly mostly affected.

Much later in her teens after stroke lije symptoms a brain MRI scan showed unusual calcification?

Another MRI revealed a spiral disc herniation.

All before a simple blood test .

Before megobolastic anaemia, very low folate and B12 vitD and ferritin.

Must've all been connected.

Years of sttange symptoms

[PlatypusProfit8077]

My eye changes have reversed with my injections - it absolutely astounded my young optometrist.

[Cherylclaire Forum Support in reply to PlatypusProfit8077]

Glad to hear it.

As a learning opportunity, astounding. Let's hope your young optometrist is a sharing type !

[Nackapan in reply to PlatypusProfit8077]

Marvelous. I went up 2 steps in prescription as my prescription I was wearing when j coujd bear to put on glasses ar all seemed as though I was looking through a milky film.

I forgot that actually I couldn't put them on in the morning as it set off awful izibs in my head and made me feel so sick .

Was suffering daily migraines at the time.

Also if did get them on they felt like metal clamped yo my head and so heavy .

After a few months of EOD I went back yo my older prescription.

I had my eyes examined in great pain because of tge lights by 3 levels of optometrists .

Reassured eye health was fine so must be nerves, messaging damaged .

[Clugster]

my vision changes every 6-8 months, which they can’t explain.