👀 EYES

[rachelbell]

My eyesight seems to be very blurry on and off have had my diabetes test and that was fine could this have anything to do with PMR ?

Thanks in advance ☺️

[piglette]

You can get blurry vision with PMR. Have you had your eyes tested recently?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have you got "dry eyes" - do they feel gritty at times? Do you produce lots of runny tears that overflow? That can affect your vision. Pred can also cause blurry vision and so can PMR.

[rachelbell in reply to PMRpro]

No flowing tears just gritty one more than other !!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to rachelbell]

You can get artificial tears from the chemist, the optician and bigger supermarkets. I like a liposomal spray that you spray on to your closed eyelids. Try that first to see if it helps.

You may have something called blepharitis

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con....

aao.org/eye-health/diseases...

You can get masks that you heat in the microwave that help too

[Jane424 in reply to PMRpro]

Can you give me the name of the spray? Thanks. Jane

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jane424]

Won't help you - it is an Italian product! But a pharmacist or optician should be able to tell you. In the UK I was recommended Clarymist by my wonderful optician - it is now called Eye Logic

eyecare-shop.co.uk/products...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to rachelbell]

Try eye drops - either HycoSan or Thealoz Duo- both recommended by my optometrist

Eye drops

[autumnlass in reply to DorsetLady]

Hycosan is great - so easy to use with ‘no touch’ dropper. 🙂

[keeptalking in reply to DorsetLady]

I also use hypo san drops (blue box) which do help my blurry vision. HOWEVER recently I could only get the ‘Hypo san extra (red box) which I started to use in the same way. Suddenly I was getting headaches everyday which were hard to shift. I feared that I was getting GCA and kept checking for other symptoms. Eventually I realised that it started when I started the different drops. I stopped using the ‘extra’ drops and my headaches disappeared!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to keeptalking]

That’s interesting…..never had that issue. Did you report it to the company?[

[keeptalking in reply to DorsetLady]

I didn’t but will do. I hadn’t thought about that.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to keeptalking]

Always good to make them aware, and if they are a decent company they’ll welcome feedback.

Be interested in their response.

[Flivoless in reply to DorsetLady]

I've used Hycosan and found it good but my Eye Consultant recommended I try Clinitas Gel and I do think it is better (and cheaper)

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Flivoless]

thanks -will look that up…

Just have-looks more short term option -and only 28days once opened-whereas others are okay for 6 months.

But maybe worth a try…

[Seacat30]

Isn't blurry vision a corticosteroid side effect?

[winfong]

I have blurry vision, and just went to the ophthalmologist to ask about it. Sounds like mine are probably just floaters. I have a history of those, and it sounds like they're just getting worse

[Amanda_iona]

I had blurry eyes during lockdown and my optician was baffled. A week or two later there was an article in my newspaper about common lockdown problems. It listed blurry eyes as a result of focusing on one thing for too long. EG tv, computer, book. Reminding myself to look away from the screen or book every so often solved the problem. Just an idea to consider.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

[Daffodilia]

Probably a good idea to check with optician

[Keemo]

Hi I have been on prednisolone for fourteen months the last three ive only been taking one mg and last two weeks finished altogether but that much pain in shoulders and hips doctor wants to start me back on five mgs also acid tablet ,my blood pressure is high and having blurred vision and gritty eyes especially at night ,ive been taking paracetamol the last two weeks but don't do any good I feel im just moaning to family all the time ,why is it the days are gone when you could have a one to one with your own doctor instead of someone you don't know and its over the phone .

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Keemo]

At 14 months your PMR is still active, so no point in not taking Pred -all you are doing is allowing inflammation to build up again. Your Dr. is correct in wanting you back on 5mg -not sure you need Alendronic Acid though.

It is frustrating not be able to see doctor, but he would give you same advice in a f2f appointment as he is over phone in this instance.

[Keemo in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you so much for your reply it's very helpful I am going to start back on five mgs this morning, just needed someone who can understand what im going through x

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Keemo]

Yes, I understand, families don’t, but we do.

Hope the 5mg gets things under control, but please don’t be in any rush to get off the Pred…..give the 5mg time to work, and then smaller steps down - 0.5mg a time rather than 1mg (plain white tablets can be cut) …and no AA unless you have DEXA scan to prove need it…

A VitD/calcium supplement is usually enough to protect bones….were you prescribed that? If not, then ask….

[Keemo in reply to DorsetLady]

Ive been thinking of coming off A A so now decided ,I had a bone scan last February that fine ,im on fultium d 800 capsules also given me omeprazole 20 mgs , im out of breath and tightness in chest but had ECG last week and was fine so thinking it might just be anxiety attacks im having x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Keemo]

Have you had the breathlessness checked out?

Yes - we all know where you are coming from even if family don't.

[Keemo in reply to PMRpro]

Yes told doctor the tightness in chest and breathing affected me when shopping or just walking upstairs I notice it that's why I had a ECG everything seams ok so im trying not to worry about it goes off when I sit down x

[Kiwisufferer2019]

I have blurry vision, particularly when i read. I use liquid tears for dry eye and that helps. Also conciousy blinking more as advised by one of the knowledgeable ladies here, and taking a break frequently, although i dont read for long periods.

[Kiwisufferer2019]

Also had my eyes tested and all fine, seems its a side effect of pred.

[Hidden]

Hi Rachelbell, Long term use of steroids can increase the risk of cataracts and glaucoma so as a precaution I would suggest an eye test with your local optician as they are brilliant at picking up on these things … mine referred me to the eye clinic over 12 years ago as he said ‘something wasn’t quite right’ with my field of vision test. I was subsequently diagnosed with open angle glaucoma. So when I was diagnosed with PMR my Rheumy told me to contact my ophthalmologist to let him know I was on high dosage Prednisolone as this can increase eye pressure in SOME users which is a problem for glaucoma sufferers … thankfully I wasn’t affected by it. Good luck and hope your eyes are ok x

[MrsNails]

I’ve found it was the Prednisolone causing my vision to be blurry especially on high doses.

It also affected my middle vision, which was a pain - my Optician made me some middle vision glasses which helped but when l got back to a reasonable dose it settled.

It’s always worth getting your eyes checked out by your Optician.

[Selfbuilder]

I can confirm that the "spray on the eyelid" eye drops do really work. I don't like conventional eyedrops but these work. I used the Optrex Actimist; not cheap but they last. As a Yorkshireman, I find that Wilko are the most cost effective.

Unfortunately, my optician determined that the blurred vision was also due to a slight cataract in one eye. I believe that these can be a side effect of pred but I think it started before the PMR.

Do check with your optician!

[Myfoe]

I have had blurry vision and occasional dry eyes since I started prednisone my left eye ball aches it feels like it was snapped with a branch kind of sore like a bruise I hope when I reduce the amount of prednisone I take 40mg things will improve are you on higher dose Rachelbell? Do your eyes feel dry?

[rachelbell in reply to Myfoe]

Tapering down to 11mg i have been told if i have high sugar levels with my diabetes that will cause problems

[montebello]

I am 8 weeks into GCA, and immediately after starting my 60 mg prednisone i started having blurry vision and a hoarse voice. Now, at 30 mg prednisone i still have blurry vision, but my voice is a bit better. Hoping my vision improves. Eye doc says nothing wrong with my eyes si here's hoping. Best wishes to you

[betsgirl]

Any possibility it could be cataracts?

[Alebeau]

Probably cataracts.

Prednisone is like a fertilizer for them.

See your optometrist asap.

I know from experience, both eyes were affected to the point where I was afraid to drive.

Have had cataracts removed and now can see again.

[Bedwell]

my eyes very bleary since pred. Eye test said blepharitis. Got drops .

[Myfoe]

I am on 40mg and my eyesight has definitely been unreliable I have had “floaters” for several years PMR seems to have made them more pronounced as well my annual check up just happened and optometrist was trying to fit me with multi focal contacts he gave me a pair to try for a week then another visit problem was we found out my eyes changed from week to week after 3 different sets of contacts we decided pmr/steroids was affecting my vision and it was not a good time to make a change on strength you should have your eyes checked out if possible best of luck