Blurry eye

[Margelatte]

Hi, I'm on 100mcg levothyroxine , still not feeling well, and for the past 4 days my left eye goes like looking through cotton wool and I get a dull ache in the socket. Has anyone else had this please, do I need to go the the opticians or the drs? Thank you

[AL14]

Unfortunately you may be starting to develop Thyroid Eye Disease. I was diagnosed with Graves Disease in January 2014 and started to have similar symptoms in July 2014 which then progressed and I now have severe active TED. Discuss as soon as possible with your Endocrinologist or your GP. I still have blurred vision, eye pain, double vision, watering eyes and cannot control the muscles in my eyes.

I hope it isn't TED but I would get it checked out Asap. Good Luck x

[Musicmonkey]

I am just wondering whether you are a poor converter Margelatte? What are your latest blood test results?

It will be much easier for people on the forum to help you with more detail to figure out what's going on.

So sorry to hear you are feeling so lousy and your GP not really listening

[waveylines in reply to Musicmonkey]

I would see your optician and get an eye check. Better to be safe then sorry. It might well be to do with the dose your on but as its one eye I would be wary. Sometime dry eyes can cause blurriest and eye drops are needed. However get them checked first.

[Musicmonkey]

I have recently experienced the symptoms you describe, but had small spots around the problem eye that the GP thought were Millia. They weren't - it was a viral attack for which I've received treatment by the Eye specialist at the hospital.

Do you have any little spots around your eye that look like whiteheads?

[staruk]

You need an emergency appointment for your Doctor. You can't afford to wait till next week. It could be nothing but you can't muck about with your eyes they are to delicate.

[Fruitandnutcase]

I'd start with a decent optician, I don't think your average doctor gets a lot of training on eyes - probably less than they get on the thyroid

It will probably take you less time to get an appointment too and they are more likely to know what the problem is.

My optician can refer directly to our local hospital which is good and saves messing around wasting time with the GP if yu actually have a problem that needs to be dealt with by the eye department.

In the meantime, get yourself some preservative free eye drops, you will be able to get them at your optician's and try holding a face cloth squeezed out in 'as hot as you can stand water' over your eyes. I get that ache when my eyes get really dry but I know it is caused by dry eyes, you need to find out what is causing it. With a bit of luck you will be able to be seen today, good luck.

[Margjean in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

I go to optician regularly,he found I had glaucoma,glad I went,had laser treatment on them,that was years ago,since had new lens in.Marvellous what they can see through your eyes,blood pressure etc,etc.That would be my first port of call. My husband has just had surgery on his eyes for macular degeneration,he is 82. Years ago he would just have had to go blind like his sister is,she is 9 years older than him.It wasn't available till a couple of years ago.We are very lucky and live in Australia.They are really up to date with medical things we get marvellous treatment here.The doctors are wonderful,if you don't like one you can just go to another.Have been to quite a few trying to get my blood pressure and thyroid under control.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Margjean]

It is indeed isn't it! So glad your husband got such good result. Have a lovely sunny Christmas out there in Australia 🎄

[Margjean in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Will do,made my trifle for Xmas dinner at one of our sons.Still never feels like Xmas,too warm.Been here over 40 years as well.Feel sorry for all the people in UK who have been flooded and all the people here in fires.Enyoy your Christmas.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Margjean]

We always have a trifle too - I keep offering to do something different but that's what everyone wants so why not.

I know it is absolutely dreadful up north, to be looked out over and over is just dreadful. I knew Carlisle got flooded but I was really surprised at Appleby.

Those forest fires you get in Australia are dreadful, they cause so much damage to everything - wildlife and humans too. If only the UK could send you some of our rain. Enjoy your Christmas. 🎄

[Gismo333]

Hi unconverted T4 can do this. It is essential that you get your adrenals checked with a saliva test and also your iron levels. In my opinion T4 should not be given on it's own and should be accompanied by T3 so if your T4 is not converting then there is T3 to enter the receptor sites on the cells. We all have millions of cells and they each have little doors called receptor sites. All hormones enter these but if your T4 is not converting to T3 then the T3 cannot enter the receptor sites and the T4 stays in the blood. Blood tests will not show this only symptoms. If you would like more information then private message me.

[Margelatte in reply to Gismo333]

I have messaged you,thank you x

[ClareP81 in reply to Gismo333]

Hi Gismo333, you sound very clued up could you possibly PM me with details, as my eyes are really problematic. Sore dry, blurry, light sensitive. I'm also on 100mg of Levothyroxine. My doctor turned a funny colour when i suggested T3. Apparently he is not allowed to prescribe and need to get from a specialist. My emial is [e-mail].

Thanks in advance for your help x

[DonnyJam]

I also get blurred/double vision but it's intermittent and seems to be mostly while at work so I'm not sure if they type of lighting there plays a part. Also my doctor didn't seem interested and said 'maybe you see an optician'

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to DonnyJam]

Bet your doctor isn't very interested because he knows he doesn't actually know all that much about eyes! Find a good optometrist, their entire training is about eyes and they also have to do continuous training to keep them up to date.

[DonnyJam in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Where would I find a optometrist? Are they hospital specialists or opticians?

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to DonnyJam]

An optometrist is what used to be called an ophthalmic optician - they test your eyes and check you out for eye conditions that might need you to go to see an ophthalmologist in a hospital. A lot of optometrists can refer you directly to hospital nowadays. They can also fit contact lenses if they want to.

A dispensing optcian will have sat exams too and can fit contact lenses if they have taken exams allowing them to do so, otherwise they can advise you about which lenses are best for your needs and measure you up for the lenses the optometrist has prescribed for you.

You also get people who have not sat exams although they may have a certificate - they are not qualified to test or anything like that but who show you frames and I think they might do dispensing too but I not sure - think they are usually called dispensing assistants, they sometimes call themselves 'dispensers' but they aren't qualified like dispensing opticians are.

[Margelatte in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Hi, I've seen my optician she is writing to my gp , I need a referral to the thyroid optician at the local hospital, I also have very dry eyes and she has advised a good brand of eye drops to help this.

I must add my gp said I was "fussing over nothing , expect this at your age (I'm 53 !!) "

I'm also waiting for the results of my recent blood test, a full screening this time .

I listed everything that was going on and my gp screwed it up and said my symptoms could relate to anything to stop blaming my thyroid. He told me to stay off these forums that they do more damage than good..... I told him he was ignorant and needed to learn a few things ....hopefully develop hypothyroidism before being so damned rude.

I cried, I cried some more and hay presto I now have a referral to an endo at the the local hospital too.

I have also reported him to the practice manager, watch this space, I'm not being mucked about any more. Thank you all for your help.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Margelatte]

My dry eyes resolved with adequate thyroid treatment...

Please make sure that any drops, etc., are preservative-free. Many people start by using ones with preservative and are fine - but then develop sensitivity to the preservative.

I recommend a night-time product in addition to whatever you use during the day - I would have said LacriLube but I think that might still be off the market due to manufacturing problems. There are some others.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Margelatte]

Good for you. Good advice from Helvellahelvella, preservative free drops - I like 'runny' ones (HycoSan) for day time and just keep putting them in frequently and I use 'gunky' ones at night. Like H says, gunky LacriLube has been suspended for a while but your optcian will know of an alternative night time one.

When you see the endo make a bullet pointed list of your main symptoms. Be detached and matter of fact about your symptoms. You can also take someone in with with you if you think you will need support.

You might need up to date blood tests before you go to see the endo. I was always given a request form and told to get the bloods done a week before I went to see the endo, in fact for my first visit, the endo whom I had never seen sent me the forms.

So if you have to wait a while before your appointment ( I waited three months) and don't hear anything, ask about having new blood tests done before you go to see the endo. If you've not read Understanding your Thyroid by Dr Anthony Toft have a look at that. It's a tiny little book, costs about £5 - you can get it from Amazon or from some chemist's. Dr Toft is very 'establishment' and I found it very useful to quote Dr T when it suited my cause.

Good luck

[Margelatte in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Hi I'm using Hyco San extra, it has so far taken all the discomfort away I will ask the pharmacist for a night time one thank you.

The book I have just bought is called "your thyroid and how to keep it healthy by Dr Barry Durrant-Peatfield." I've also ordered a book about looking after your adrenals. I'm hoping and keeping everything crossed that the blood tests will reveal enough to get me some respite from the way that I'm feeling. Honestly never felt so desperately I'll in all my life.

Thank you for the tips regarding the Endo.

I've started keeping a diary, I will take key points from that to give to the endo.

Thank you for all of your kind words and support.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Margelatte]

I'm using ArteLac at night but I'm not sure whether or not it is preservative free. HycoSan is great stuff.

I've read and have a lot of books including Dr Peatfield's which is good but (I think) he has opted out of the NHS and treats privately so the 'thyroid establishment' don't like him - which is where Dr Toft's book comes in handy - he is one of ther own and if you can find anything in there that supports your case I think you will probably get a better response from your endo than if you say 'Dr Peatfield says'.

Also, I may be wrong but 'adrenal fatigue' tends not to be recognised by a lot of endos so it also might be worth posting again to ask other members how they went about mentioning that to their endo.

[Margelatte in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Funny you should say that ....when I name dropped Dr Peatfield, and said I was going to contact him, my gp said.....be careful in whom you trust outside of the nhs......I don't think they like the fact that he gets good results.

I will look out for your book though, doesn't hurt to be well informed. Thank you.

It's very sad though that we all have to work so hard to try and heal ourselves.

I worked for 25years for the nhs and I feel very let down.

Any and all help is gratefully received. Thank you

[Margelatte in reply to Margelatte]

So today was d day...my gp was eating humble pie.... I need to increase from 100-125mcg for 3 weeks then a blood test before increasing to 150 mcg. My liver has also taken a bashing and is being monitored with four weekly blood tests.

I want to show you my test results but don't know how to get the info on here.

He didn't say sorry, but I think if I had asked for anything I would have got it today.....if only they listened. We know our bodies not them

[Midge-marie]

You need to go immediately to your optician. You don't even need an appointment. Opticians in the UK can now draw down funding for emergency treatment and you will be seen quicker and referred quicker than via a GP. You could have a retinal detachment and this is an emergency requiring quick treatment. A GP does not have the correct equipment to diagnose this and will simply send you to hospital. There is, in my opinion, no reason at this point to link this to thyroid disease, it is a fairly common occurrence.

[decembersignup]

Was on a lower dose but had a similar thing plus many other bad effects, which is why I dont take them now.

[Piper729]

I agree with others that say see an specialist today just to be safe I can add though that after 6 years of being on Levo and Snthroid my eyes suddenly became very achy. Could barely read or keep them open. I switch to Armour aound that time but also started taking B12 and iron supplements. On days I missed these supplements my eyes would ache so I'm assuming getting off the synthetic drug and taking the supplements is what helped.

[Treepie]

Margalatte, in my GP waiting room I noted a leaflet on sudden eye problems. There is an acronym PEARS for primary eye care acute referral scheme.Go to the opticians involved in the scheme and they will send direct to hospital if necessary.

[Thyrigia]

Hi Margelatte,

I, too, am concerned about my sight of late. My eyesight had been continuously improving for years - one good thing about my health! - but taking Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine last six weeks, my eyesight has become fuzzy and I have trouble distinguishing between small 6s and 8s and today between 5s and 6s. Not a happy bunny! Plus headaches mostly to my right hand side of head. I chave nothing to suggest to you but send you my empathy and commiserations.

[Margelatte]

Thank you all, I can't get an apt with my optician until the new year, she went on leave last Wednesday, my gp still isn't interested, so a miserable time ahead I guess. Thank you all for your kind comments.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Margelatte]

Rinse a facecloth out in hot water - hot as you can bear but don't burn yourself. Hold that over your closed eyes a few times, if you keep doing that it should bring relief. Dry eyes can affect the whole area around your eyes. I used to feel like someone had punched me in the face. Once I lubricated them regularly they improved. They were much worse when my Graves' disease was at its worst but I had dry eyes before that and even now they are still on the dry side. In my case it's probably age

You can buy a thing called an eye bag that you put in the microwave for a few seconds then do the same thing. I've got one but I much prefer the warm facecloth.

[7989--]

Hi Margelatte! I have just developed the same symptoms except that my left eye vision is more like looking thru waxed paper. It's funny that last week my Opthamologist just gave me new glasses, and I was seeing perfectly. He said I didn't have cataracts, macular degeneration, or detached retina. I am also on different meds than you. I just went from Synthroid to NDT.

I wish I could help you, but I don't have the answers, but reading the replies from your post has helped.

Good luck to you. Hope you have a great Christmas despite the problems.

~~Susan

[Chrissy]

I take Letrozole (post breast cancer), and I now have blurry vision in my right eye (not good as my left us is pretty much useless - lazy eye and astigmatism. I have never thought that it might be from my drugs but it is a thought. The Ophthalmologist here on Crete didn't mention that it might be. Just said that it is fluid behind the eye for which there is no remedy but will usually correct itself in a couple of months. That was six weeks ago and it is no better, in fact it is worse.

[Margelatte]

Quick update, went to the opticians, couldn't get an apt until this Wednesday with the optician I always see and trust. The other optician initially thought that it might be from over medication, but we will see on Wednesday. !!

I have been saying since November that I feel over medicated but my gp just dismisses me

Still feeling dreadful, chest pain still there, dizziness not quite as bad, not sleeping....well it's about 7am before I drop off then I'm up again about midday, loose stools, brain fog, anxiety through the roof, oh and sneezing, I'm sneezing for the town ..... I've written my will I'm convinced this is the end, never been so frightened in all my life. Sorry to go on

[Margelatte]

Drs tomorrow opticians Wednesday, spoke to dr and he is convinced that with my weight gain (more than a stone in 3 weeks). My blurry eye, my dizziness, hot feet, brain fog etc etc that I am in fact under medicated, I told him that my chest feels like it's being pinched as I breathe in and that this is the worst I have felt in over a year .....again he said under medicated. !!!

I have requested full blood screening and adrenal saliva test. What else should I be asking for please ? Wish me luck....think I'm going to need it

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Margelatte]

Ferritin, folates, vitamin B12 and vitamin D. Yu want them all to be well up in their lab ranges.

I have to say when I was being treated for Graves - block and replace - carbimazole to knock out all natural thyroid production then levothyroxine to replace it artificially and when I was needing an increase in my Levo I used to feel absolutely dreadful. Palpitations etc. The first time it happened I thought I was becoming hyper again but someone on here said I was probably needing my Levo increased and indeed I was. After that I always knew when I needed an increase. Good luck.