GCA Eyesight Anxiety

[Lenore58]

Hello,

I am feeling quite anxious now, because my long-distance sight seems worse today. I am definitely seeing double (at a distance) and cannot focus (distance only.) Up close is clear. (I do have myopia, and have never had any problem with close work, unlike most people my age, which is 65.) I was able to get my doctor to get the referral to an ophthalmologist and have an appointment at 3:00 pm (PST) tomorrow. I’ll report back. Realize that it can be the steroids, but it seems the steroids can damage your site as well. That’s why I am nervous.

[Lenore58]

Also want to mention that my doctor originally told me that according to my weight, (124 lbs) I should be on 50 mg. But she ended up prescribing 60 mg. I suppose that was to be safe but maybe that’s 10 mg too much for my eyes?

[SheffieldJane in reply to Lenore58]

I think your dose probably explains your blurry vision - this tends to be a side effect of Pred. Should you feel that this escalates I would go straight to the Emergency Room - unusual headache, jaw pain on chewing, sore tongue, any loss of vision. My guess is that is a side effect of your high dose steroids and is temporary. You have protection against GCA flares at these levels of Pred . Let us know how you go Lenore58. Good luck.

[Lenore58 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you very much. I will.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

High dose of steroids can affect your sight….. but they rarely ‘damage’ permanently, in fact they save sight… as many of us know.

Hopefully all will be explained at ophthalmology appointment later, and please let us know you get on.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Some people start on 80 or even 100 to get GCA under control - there is only a MAXIMUM dose recommended for the calculation using 1 mg/kg and that is 70mg.

It is a side effect of pred, it doesn't damage your sight like GCA can,

[Lenore58 in reply to PMRpro]

Ok, thank you!

[LuckyMaddi]

My vision issues came and went as I tapered. Rheumy put me on baby aspirin. Much better and all symptoms were/are transient depending on my activities, fatigue etc. I am now able to successfully read a book after almost 18 months. I am near sighted in one eye and far in the other. Most days I can use cell, laptop etc. without aid of glasses but desktop no - needed my glasses. Better now in low dose of 15 mg.

[Lenore58]

do you think that the baby aspirin helped your vision?