worsening vision left eye

[Mstiles]

I posted earlier a few weeks ago about problems with my left eye, the vision getting worse. Far distance looked like my vision did before cataract surgery- not distinct.

I also posted about an ER visit that happened two weeks ago because of severe vomiting, diarrhea, rapid heartbeat and dehydration. Still recovering and having some problems from that episode.

I havent increased my pred because of the ER ( sick day rules), but my eye issue has worsened.

I talked with the triage team at my Opthomologist last week. I was also having minor head pain, (when reading, stressed, tired). I got an appointment moved up from a month to two weeks from now. They suggested dry eye drops every 2 hours. I’ve been doing it every 4 hours for a few days and it seemed to be helping but today the vision is much worse and also I’m having some double vision in that eye.

Also there is still major family stress.

I don’t have a rheumatologist right now. My GP has been providing my pred. She won’t be happy if I increase on my own.

Could this be something else other than GCA? Minor stroke?

Shoud I increase my pred? Not sure how to proceed, just overwhelmed with all the problems.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Is the vision thing in an eye that has had a cataract op done? Has no-one checked for posterior capsule opacification? It is a very common problem:

med.umich.edu/1libr/Ophthal...

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

first thing I thought of as it happened to my husband. Cataract surgery in both eyes & a wonderful difference…but in one eye it gradually got worse, like when the cataract ‘grew’. However, 10 minutes of laser treatment & it was perfect again…it was posterior capsule opacification…so easy to treat, & the opticians found it & put him forward for the laser treatment!

[Mstiles in reply to Pixix]

thank you Pixit,

PMRPro sent me a link about that. I will check it out with my Opthomologist. They are trying to figure out if it’s a flare of GCA or dry eye and latest recommendation is eye drops every 2 hours. My doctor is from a large university teaching hospital, seems like they would have investigated this! Another doctor there did the cataract surgeries.

I don’t have an optometrist. Maybe they would be more helpful.

[Pixix in reply to Mstiles]

I have dry eye, & blepharitis. I don’t think you should need an optometrist. But perhaps it’s different in the US. David saw a regular high Street optician, who checks eyes, scans them & produces a prescription. In a way I hope it is this, b3vause it literally was a ten minute cure!!

[Mstiles in reply to PMRpro]

No, no one has checked for that!

I had contacted the triage folks, my Opthomologist is at a large university teaching hospital, supposedly best in the state, and I guess they concluded it wasn’t a flare from the symptoms, and suggested expensive eye drops every 2 hours. I’ve been doing every 4 hours which hasn’t seemed to help. The doctor who did the cataract surgery is at the same hospital-you’d think they would think of a possible cataract lens problem.

[Mstiles in reply to PMRpro]

left eye vision problem and Patulous Eustachian Tube problem.

In trying to figure out what’s causing the vision problem, I wondered if a stupid mistake I made with pre op eye drops had caused an issue with the surgery on that eye. I started the prednisone eye drops a week before surgery instead of a few days. That eye was done first and that surgery was more painful and that eye uncomfortable.

Could Patulous Eustacian Tube (PET) maybe caused by this have something to do with the vision problem? PET as I understand it, has something to do with causing an opening in the tube, which doesn’t close properly, causing an echo or the impression that you’re talking out of your ear! Everything seems to be connected or close in the head. This really annoying autophony is in addition to more hearing loss. I’m adjusting to new hearing aids now but they don’t help the PET. MyENT said he couldn’t do anything and referred me to an ear specialist. Haven’t seen him yet as other problems took precedence.

[Mstiles in reply to PMRpro]

More on Patulous Eustacian Tube and possible causes: “chronic immunological disease, history of acid reflux, stress and anxiety, vascular problems”.

thanks for your patience in reading all this Pro, I really appreciate this. Don’t have other support right now.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I honestly have no idea. But I can't see why a bit extra pred would lead to that.

Have you tried chewing gum? It is one of the potential home remedies. Always worth a try.