GCA/blurry eyesight

[Cadden]

I was diagnosed with PMR in August 2021 and have managed with Pred having had 2 flares at 9mg and one when down to 7mg. I am now on 10mg and reducing very slowly.

My question is about eyesight. Can you have GCA without any symptoms? My eyesight is getting worse, very blurry. I am having trouble with reading and tv. My optician and a ophthalmologist at the hospital both say that I have good eyesight buy do not answer the ‘blurry’ question. Any advice please?

Thank you for the forum and all the advice you give as I have not seen a Dr.about my PMR since my diagnosis.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Pred itself can cause the blurriness… but it usually gets better as you reduce the dose. As yours seems to be getting worse, then it does need checking properly, Hopefully cataracts etc have been ruled out. Has optician/ophthalmologist suggested eye drops?

[Cadden in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you so much. Cateracts have been done but eye drops have been recommended so I will persevere with them and my warm eyepad. Reassuring that they will most likely get Breyer with reducing Pred.

[AussieKid in reply to Cadden]

3 years after having my cataracts done I began to notice increasing blurred vision mostly in my right eye but a little in the left eye. The ophthalmologist who did the surgery said 'debri' had and was continuing to form on the back of the capsule where the new lens was inserted. This was apparently not unexpected and was promptly dealt with by 'laser' zaps - clear vision again, wonderful 😀. My second eye is doing the same thing and my vision through this eye is getting poorer. This is to be 'lasered' in 3 months' time.

I also have 'dry-eye' and the Ophthalmologist recommended I use 'Nova Tears'. It seems to clear my vision for a little while only.

Reducing Pred did not seem to change the progression of 'blurriness'. I have been on 5 mgs for some 6 months.

See - PCO info.

rnib.org.uk/your-eyes/eye-c...

[SnazzyD]

What tests did they do? Could be Pred induced cataracts.

[Cadden in reply to SnazzyD]

Just the normal tests, have already had cateracts done

[SnazzyD in reply to Cadden]

Prior to Pred?

[LoveMygarden29]

I wonder if it’s Dry Eye. I have the blurry vision symptoms you describe. I see an eye specialist because I have high pressures. I mentioned the blurry vision at my latest consultation and without hesitation he said that’s dry eye.

I was diagnosed with PMR and GCA Dec 21. Down to 7 pred with the ‘help’ of Lefluomide.

Best wishes to you x

[Cadden in reply to LoveMygarden29]

Thanks for your reply, dry eye was suggested and eye drops recommended. Will persevere with them.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Has anyone suggested dry eyes? That was what caused my similar symptoms. I thought it was an infection and the GP agreed, prescribing antibiotic eyedrops. Within a couple of weeks all was fine again even though the drops were finished. When it happened again I was sent to the Eye Clinic where I was told quite firmly it was dry eyes. Since then I have used drops twice a day, when I get up and before bed. Some work better than others - currently using some from Boots the pharmacist assured me would be better than a more expensive variety since they were identical in composition - they are rubbish!!! But the right drops used regularly is the place to start.

[Cadden in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for your reply. It was suggested dry eye and recommended drops. Unfortunately at first there was not much improvement but am persevering, trying to find which are best for me.

[Gimme]

Same here. It was dry eye. I used the eye drops initially, but I got good results from daily use of the warm eye compress. I've just realised that it has been a lot better since I have been tapering.

[Cadden in reply to Gimme]

Hoping that tapering is going to make an improvement but it is slow going.