Blurry Eyes

[lizg0017]

Anyone tapering down from high doses of prednisone have a little trouble with blurry vision? I will be seeing my eye doc as I’m not sure if the pred changed my eyeglass prescription, or if they’re just watery, or something else is going on. Thanks everyone.

[SnazzyD]

Pred can affect one’s focus and I found changing from one depth of field quickly wasn’t easy and my prescription glasses didn’t quite do the job either. My optician said not to bother getting new glasses unless it was unsafe not to as it would get expensive having to keep changing them. Reducing dose did change my focus and I had to get used to the new normal when it happened. Lower doses made it less extreme.

[lizg0017 in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you, Snazzy. It’s bothersome for sure. I’ll look forward to my tapering down regimen. Ugh.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I wasn't on as high doses as SnazzyD but I also have focussing problems at times.

The greater problem I have is dry eyes - which counterintuitively leads to your eyes being very watery. This is because the usual thick tears we produce aren't being made so the eyes produce copious amounts of much thinner, poorer quality, tears in an attempt to protect the surface of your eyes from damage. If this is what is happening to you, you need eye drops to use several times a day and they make a great improvement.

[lizg0017 in reply to PMRpro]

Ah, ok so that’s what seems to be going on. You’d think dry eyes wouldn’t make them watery but it is something I had heard of. Agree, it’s counterintuitive. I will try the eye drops throughout the day today and see if I get some relief. Thank you, PMRpro.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to lizg0017]

Hope it helps!

[Gimme in reply to lizg0017]

Dry eye does seem like a misleading name for something that causes watery eyes, but the dry eye is usually because of poor quality of the tear layer in the eye and the eye over compensates, hence the wateriness. I didn't find that the drops made a huge amount of difference for me, and got better results from the warm compress over the eyes. You can get gel eye masks, but a face cloth soaked in hot water (not too hot) works just as well, if not better. The ophthalmologist also recommended antiseptic wipes to bathe away any crustiness in the morning, though I am not a big fan of any kind of wipes, because of the plastic in them .

p.s. it was the eyes that were crusty. My personal crustiness seem to be a constant with PMR and the wipes don't do anything for that.

[readingbooks in reply to Gimme]

I'm with you on the personal crustiness, Gimme . At 86 and after 7 years of pred and PMR I seem stuck with it !

[Oshmar in reply to PMRpro]

Ditto... blurry, lacking focus and DRY as anything making them gunky, as you describe PMRpro. Always helps to know it isn't 'just you'.

[RosyPollyandMe in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for this advice. I have experienced the exact same problem…. Would like to know which eyedrops you might have found helpful? Many thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to RosyPollyandMe]

Probably wouldn't help you - I live in Italy so brands are different,

[lizg0017 in reply to RosyPollyandMe]

I’m from the States, but this is what I’ve been using which is helping.

Refresh RELIEVA PF Preservative-Free Tears, 0.01 fl oz (0.4 mL), 30 Single-Use Containers

[Gimme in reply to RosyPollyandMe]

Hylo Dual is the one that was prescribed for me. But I was also given Olopatadine, which is an antihistamine, as my eyes have been so itchy too.

[Kendrew]

Hi there,

I started on 30mgs of pred and would frequently experience 'blurry vision' till I'd tapered down to approximately 12½mgs.

It often felt like I needed to keep blinking to clear the lens.

[lizg0017 in reply to Kendrew]

Ok, at least I know others have same problem with the higher pred doses. Thanks

[Bedwell]

I’ve had this all the way since starting on pred. Have used eye drops..

[lizg0017 in reply to Bedwell]

Thanks. I’m faithfully using them now.

[Potemkin]

I've noticed the focus issue but not the dry eyes. I was planning to get new glasses but now think I should wait.

[AmberGamble]

My Opthalmologist said the Pred created fluid behind the eyes and that my vision would vary and not be stable for some time until I was on lower dosage. It’s weird but hopefully will improve 🤞

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to AmberGamble]

Maybe it does - but I had trouble focussing with PMR itself, long before I was put on pred. It can be both or either.

[Suzanne28]

Hi there I also had/have blurry vision - especially in the distance and subtitles on the tv and felt like my reading glasses prescription was a bit off. Also very dry eyes, stinging most of the day and watery first thing in the morning. This happen pretty much straight away on 15mg Pred - saw small improvement when on 12.5mg now newly on 10mg and def feeling things settling down. I use those artificial tear drops from the chemist few times a day for relief. It’s annoying definitely!

[lizg0017 in reply to Suzanne28]

That’s exactly where I’m having trouble - subtitles on the tv and some distance. I’m now down to 15mg from 60mg due to a pmr flare. Hopefully, over the next couple months, I’ll get back down to a dose that will help improve the eyes. Thanks to everyone for your replies.

[Gimme]

Also, worth bearing in mind that high blood sugar can cause blurry eyes as it attracts fluid to the eye and hence raises the pressure of the eye. That's how I knew that I was pre-diabetic again. Periodic hba1c tests are a good idea when on pred long term as pred can raise blood sugar over a period of time.

[lizg0017 in reply to Gimme]

Good point. I will monitor. Thanks.

[toniaell]

I've had dry eyes for a number of years and pred made them much worse. The best eye drops which my optician recommended are hycosan extra which I use multiple times during the day. I use an ointment on a night called hycosan night. It tends to leave a thin trace on the lids so I use blethagel to remove it. Costs a fortune but I need to use it or the pain is unbearable. Would have them checked at the ops first just to make sure it's dry eyes. Take care

[greencyclist62]

Hello, Yes my eyesight has definitely got worse since taking pred. I am having to change my prescription as I'm having trouble focusing. I have read that this is one of the side effects of the medication.

[lizg0017 in reply to greencyclist62]

Ok thanks. I’ll add this to my long list of pred side effects!! Ugh. lol.

[gingerraspiller]

I too noticed blurry vision. I have had 2 eye exams since I started prednisone August 2022 and my vision has not changed. Agree, it is nice to know I'm not the only one!

[Maryis80]

Could be cataracts developing - my eye consultant said mine were steroid induced cataracts and removed both of them, not at the same time! I also have dry eyes which is a nuisance but have some drops and optician also sold me an eye pad which you warm up in the microwave and then place over he eyes, says it makes the oily substance in the eyes more fluid so it works better. Not sure about that but will give it a try.

[lizg0017 in reply to Maryis80]

Thank you! I did purchase drops and an eye pad. Hope it gives some relief!!