1. Community
  2. Eyes
  3. Cataract

Recently diagnosed with bi lateral cataracts

Posted , 11 users are following.

Foxtrotsierra
Foxtrotsierra

I was recently (yesterday) diagnosed with bi lateral cataracts. The onset of the deterioration of my vision has been incredibly fast - 4 weeks from being able to see "normally" (I am long sighted and only wear my glasses occasionally) to really struggling.

I had my appointment with my optician yesterday and have been referred to my GP who I am seeing on Friday the 13th of September who will then refer me to the eye specialist at my local hospital.

I am 39 and to be quite honest, very frightened. I was just wondering if anyone could help me with what to expect from here on in. I have glasses on order but they are going to be a couple of weeks before they come. My old glasses are useless and I am struggling to see the TV. Fortunately I can increase the font size on my Kindle and laptop so that isn't so much of a problem.

I am not driving at the moment as I have uncontrolled epilepsy so that isn't a huge problem but I am knocking things over left right and centre.

Has anyone any ideas how to help myself? I know things are going to get worse before they get better so I am hoping to get some ideas to help myself until I can get them removed.

Thanks for listening and fingers crossed for some ideas to work with!

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • timjohn
    timjohn

    Posted

    Are you or were you on any medication before this happened?
  • Foxtrotsierra
    Foxtrotsierra

    Posted

    Where to start re: medication! I am on anti epileptics, (carbamazapine and Keppra), pain medication (paracetamol, mefenamic acid, MST and oramorph), diazepam - these are for my broken back. I also have pernicious anaemia so have hydroxywoxy (ie Vit B 12) injections, folic acid and ropinirole as I get weird pains in my legs at night. First thing I did when I found out was squint my way through the info on the medication sheets but none specifically mentioned cataracts, and my Optician has a full list of the medication I take too. It is actually getting worse daily now - I can really see (pun completely intended) the difference.
  • timjohn
    timjohn

    Posted

    carbamazapine and Keppra both these can cause cataracts. So you need to go back to your doctor and see if there are alternative drugs that you can take that do not cause this problem. The big problem with all drugs is side effects. It seems impossible for the drug companies to produce a drug without terrible side effects? But then they would not have to make a tablet to counteract and their profits would be less!
  • Foxtrotsierra
    Foxtrotsierra

    Posted

    Thank you SO much for getting back to me timjohn, I really appreciate it. I have been through the whole gamut of AEDs and I have managed to get my seizures down to 60-80 a week with the combination of carbamazapine and Keppra, though I don't like the Keppra much at all. I have an appointment with him on Friday so will bring it up with him for sure as my eyesight is deteriorating daily now (I have got the page zoomed out rather large on my computer and the light turned down as I am getting awful glare in the "halo" on my vision. I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 17 and carbamazapine alone kept my seizures under control. March 2012 they just exploded and I have been on so many different things it is unreal (I am 39 now). I shall definitely be asking about perhaps coming off the Keppra as I genuinely don't feel it is doing anything for me. I really appreciate you taking the time for replying to me.
    • rita75948
      rita75948 Foxtrotsierra

      Posted

      I am attempting to control my epilespy through diet. I have been taking antii seizure meds for over fifty years. I have grand mal seizures which are controled with meds but I am really concerned about the side effects from taking this medication for so many years including worsing cataracts. I have been taken only a 1/8 of my dosage for over a month now and with one exception I have not even had an aura. The one auro or petit mal seizure I had I was able to control from going into a grand mal. I have not been able to do that since I was 11 eleven years old. I really believe diet, exercise or yoga, and mediation have been my saving grace. I am a vegan. Read Treating Epilespy Naturally by Patricai A. Murphy and find a good intergrative neurologist to help you. There maybe more you can do to help yourself. Good luck.  
  • timjohn
    timjohn

    Posted

    Have you had a brain scan lately?
  • amandan
    amandan

    Posted

    I have epilepsy too and take keppra, topamax for it and when I went for my eye appointment he said i had a

    Cataract.. I am really nervous about it because i am only 20 years old and i my vision gets worse, but i

    understand what you are going through,

  • edwin00869
    edwin00869 Foxtrotsierra

    Posted

    i also was on both those meds in the past year ...I WENT FROM PERFECT VISION TO COMPLETELY GRAYED OUT BY CATTERACT IN MY LEFT EYE AND ITS GETTING FUZZY IN MY RIGHT ..I KNOW IT WAS THESE MEDS THEY HAD ME ON KEPPRA ,I TOLD THE DOCTOR WITHIN 2 MONTHS MY RIGHT EYE STARTED GETT FYZZY THEN IT  KIND OF STOPPED WHEN I QUIT TAKING THE MED .....NEW DOCTOR PUT ME BACK ON KEPPRA I TOLD THEM IT IS MESSING UP MY EYES ..I WAS TOLD ITS NOT THIS MED ...WAS ON IT 3 MONTHS AN MNOW IM BLIND IN MY LEFT COMPLETEY HAZED AN MY RIGHT EYE GOT WORSE HOW MANY OTHER HAVE HAD THIS AN IS THERE A LAWYER LOOKING INTO THIS 
  • janet1974
    janet1974 Foxtrotsierra

    Posted

    Foxtrotsierra-

    If you're still in the group, I'm just wondering how you're doing 4 years later.

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.