blurry vision

[Leont1na]

is it the pred or just the PMR causing blurry vision? Finding it difficult to read. And oh sooo tired all the time.

[123-go]

The steroids may be causing the problem or the development of cataracts. I would seek an optician's advice and when making the appointment inform that you are are taking prednisolone for your autoimmune disease.In between times, if your sight worsens or you have a headache or double vision, ring your rheumatology clinic or doctor straight away to be on the safe side.

[Leont1na in reply to 123-go]

Thank you. Happy to say no headaches, just the blurry vision. And constant tiredness.

[123-go in reply to Leont1na]

Pleased to hear you have no headaches. The blurred vision does need looking at (no pun intended) so best to make the optician appointment.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Thee Pred can certainly cause blurriness especially at higher doses and when you first start -what dose are you on and how long?

Fatigue is all part and parcel of an chronic autoimmune disease -maybe have a look at this -and the links therein on fatigue, pacing etc-

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

And a bit more info on your bio would be good -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Leont1na]

Started with 4 weeks 15 mg, then 4 weeks 12.5 mg, now just started 10 mg. Hoping the slow reduction will make the difference.

[SheffieldJane]

I get very tired eyes and the pollen count is not helping ( my husband is really suffering with his eyes lately. However, for us, blurred vision can be a symptom of impending GCA at worst, side effects of Pred, or part of PMR. So this symptom needs to be reported. I would start with a well equipped optician to have a thorough look at your eyes and optical nerve. I would also report it to my Rheumatologist or GP depending on who has charge of my care. If the blurred vision is accompanied by headaches or double vision or even temporary loss of the vision in one eye, this becomes an emergency and you need to see an emergency Opthalmologist ideally or go to A&E and emphasise the importance of rapid attention. Watch out for jaw pain when chewing as well.I hope it’s just the weather but we can’t take chances.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Are you suffering from dry eyes? Are you reading/using a screen a lot? All those can cause blurred vision because we forget to to blink enough when reading close-to and dry eyes means you need more blinking anyway.

You can get artificial tears at the chemist or the optician - I particularly like liposomal sprays you spray on your closed lids and it works through to your eyes, And rest your eyes from the screen/page at frequent intervals.

[Seacat30]

I didn't quite notice when the blurry effect started but it was probably a few months after starting on pred. It seems to be going off as I reduce my dose.

[Plains in reply to Seacat30]

I have discovered I have very dry eyes cause by my autoimmune disease. I had plugs put in my tear ducs and use eye drops several times a day. I also had my trifocals adjusted. All this has helped me. My doctor was concerned about GCA when I had pain in my neck and the sides of my head. I am taking 12 mg of prednisone and will be reducing to 10 providing I do not get head or neck pain. Fingers crossed. Best of luck, I hope this information helps.

[herdysheep]

As others have said, always best to get blurred vision checked out. Dry eyes are a bit naughty - they usually water a lot! A check at the optician would help to clarify with treatment for dry eye if necessary. My eyes are always worse when I am really tired/having a flare/bright light/extended screen use etc. I have a sticky on my computer screen reminding me to blink. Every little helps.

[Kiwisufferer2019]

I have the same trouble, but it has been better since I've consciously remembered to blink frequently.

[Kiwisufferer2019 in reply to Kiwisufferer2019]

I had my eyes tested and no problems, and had both cataracts done a few years ago.

[Bridge31]

I have blurry vision some of the time. I have recently had my eyes checked and no sign of cataracts. I’m on 5mg.

[Pr0jection]

Mine is blurry in the mornings when I have difficulty in reading the laptop screen. However, by the afternoon it's fine, but I don't know if this is caused by pred, PMR, or just old age! Certainly my general eyesight has worsened over the last two years since being diagnosed. I now make sure I have my eyes checked once a year instead of every two years. At the last check up (early 2021) there was no sign of cataracts. This has reminded me to make an appointment ASAP. All the best......

[paulus65]

One of the symptons of type 2 diabetes is blurred vision and one of the side effects of pred can be steroid induced diabetes. Might be worth getting blood sugar checked.(I speak from experience)

[Sickparott22]

As someone else pointed out blurry vision can be a sign of steroid induced diabetes. Also watch out for thirst. Please have a blood test to check this out . I discovered this to my cost just about the same time of the medicine journey that you are on when I went to have mine checked and was taken into hospital for three days . A bit of a dramatic event as I had to organise care of my husband who has dementia.

[Leont1na in reply to Sickparott22]

Thanks re diabetes advice. Blood test shows me clear of that problem. 🙄

[montebello]

My vision changed overnight after being put on 60 mg pred for GCA, as if my prescription had changed. My voice is also affected... hoarseness. I've been at 60 mg for 2 weeks, started 50 mg yesterday. Aside from that, not feeling too bad.

[Leont1na in reply to montebello]

Definitely emphasise with the hoarseness. Not great for a professional interpreter. Have had to give up work for that reason. Plus general muscle weakness 😢

[Sunnyday365]

Yes, please have it checked out. I also thought it was the Pred but turned out inflammation showed up again - in my eye - central serous retinopathy.

[nuigini]

I had dry eyes and burry vision, which gradually disappeared as pred dose deceased. Eye drops helped.

Having trouble reading fine print now, even with progressive lens. Expect it's the cataracts which began forming a few years ago. Not caused by preds, just aging (there are two different types of cataracts). Increased lightening helps. Not surprising at 73 years of age.

[Boss302Fan]

Suggest seeing your eye doctor and letting them know when you started Pred, initial dose and current dose. In my case I got elevated intraocular pressure which left untreated can cause a few bad effects. Also dry eye.

[krillemy]

I had very blurred vision before pred. and had eyes checked. Like a double vision but vertical. I used my hubby´s glasses to read small letters and bought reading glasses. I did not realise that it was the PMR. But pred. cleared is all up! My eye doctor said that there are "also muscles in the eye", so maybe PMR can effect them.Now on pred. 17,5 mg, I do tend to have blurred vision again, it is the worst 4 hours after dosing. More if I have been on the screen a lot. So I guess it can be to high pred. or too low....