Change in eyes response

[Shakalak]

My father has PSP and starring has changed - very vacant, not blinking. Has anyone else seen this in their people suffering from PSP?

[Helen119]

Yes my husband does this, I talk to him and he doesn’t answer, like he’s in his own world now most of the time.

Love and hugs xx

[AnneandChris in reply to Helen119]

Oh Helen, this is so true. Chris is the same. There, but not there. It's so frustrating and so terribly sad.

Keep on, keeping on.

Anne

[Hidden]

Hi Shakalak,

My mom also did this. There were also times when only one eye lid would close & the other would stay open. At first l wondered if she was doing it on purpose... she was not.

There are many older post concerning PSP & eyes. They are on the upper side of this page. I think you will find them very informative.

Sending gentle hugs to you & your dad... Granni B

[Tippyleaf]

My hubby tends to gaze into space usually upwards - he has less than 5 % downward gaze now. He can still propel himself around the house not sure walking is the correct term but I have to remind him to look in the direction of travel. Even getting out of bed his gaze is usually upwards.

At first it is a little disconcerting but soon becomes the new norm!!

Love Tippy

[Escada29]

I have noticed sleeping with the eyes open usually one eye shut and the other open but in deep sleep.

[NannaB]

Yes. Very common. It happened very early on with my husband. He used to welcome people into our church with a smile and a handshake and they started telling me he stopped making eye contact and stared past them. This was one of many changes I had noticed which I wrote down and got him to give to his doctor. When he saw the neurologist after tests 4 months later, he had my list and said my comment about him staring and not moving his eyes was what told him he had PSP and not Parkinson’s. Although he appeared vacant, he knew everything that was happening up to his death so never stop talking to your father and telling him interesting things even if he appears to not be taking it in.

Best Wishes

XxxX

[rriddle]

Not blinking is a very common problem in those with neurological conditions. This can often cause people to have dry eyes. You might want to consider some eye drops if your father's eyes need to be soothed.

[Kaylewis]

Hi, yes mum did this, but she did know what was going on as well iam sure.x

[Hidden]

Hi, yes my brother stares upwards now, rarely blinking. He looks in a world of his own. Sadly he can no longer talk so we are not sure if he is aware of his surroundings.

PSP has broken my lovely lively brother.

Sue x

[Bhaja in reply to Hidden]

I can relate to that cause my husband does the same very sad to watch. he also does not speak he went from three word to nothing. i have a very hard sometimes to say stuff or ask him .cause he will not talk, he used to talk all the time all the time before and be the center of the party.

[Kevin_1]

Hi Shakalak

Welcome to the site.

That is very much a part of PSP. Sorry to say. It's not treatable I'm afraid.

Gradually the persons ability to move their eyes slows and then all but ceases.

Have you seen the PSP Association website. There is a lot of very good information there.

pspassociation.org.uk/

Best to you

Kevin

[AJK2001]

Yes very much so. Mum has a very slow blink and has led to a loss of tearfilm protecting the eyes, which makes them very sore dry. She has eye drops 4 -5 times a day, eye gel twice a day and an ointment at night, to try and keep the eyes lubricated. There is a risk of ulceration of the eye surface if they get too dry. Worth getting referred to an opthalmalogist.

[racinlady in reply to AJK2001]

I'd like to re-emphasize how important it is to keep the eyes lubricated. The protocol described by AJK2001 sounds like a really good plan.

When my husband was still able to talk, he described his vision as like tunnel vision. If we wanted him to see something, we had to position it slightly higher than his eye level.

Pat

[PSomani]

Hi. As mentioned by others , this is a symptom of PsP including eyeball freezing post which the patient can only look in one direction - straight.

You may want to check with your local doctor on how to keep the eyes moist using eye drops or something. When sleeping try and close the eyes with your hands if it works

My mother initially had issues with keeping the eyes open which gradually transitioned to not being able to close them.

Take care

Anshuman

[Hidden]

My husband Dave slso has PSP and he has the same happening, hus eyes are sensitive to light. So sun glasses on in the house and outside, lots of eye drops. Foes not chznge the blank stare, buts all part of psp. All the best

[Hidden]

My Dad stared into space especially after he was spending most of the time in bed. He wore sun glasses inside and we used eye lubricant often because he didn't blink often. A warm wet wash cloth seemed to be soothing for him also. It was always hard to know what made him comfortable because he didn't complain about anything.

[Tttp]

The eyes are a tell sign of psp, and unfortunately don’t get any better Nettie