Vision change while on pred
Posted , 8 users are following.
I'm hoping to get some answers quickly as I should have asked this question several days ago. I know that pred can effect your eye sight but to what degree. I'm going in to see my eye doctor today even though I just saw him about a month ago because I simply can't see my electronics after about 10 minutes on them. I do suffer from dry eye syndrome and my allergies are out of control so it's anyone's guess what the problem is so I really don't know how to treat it. I have been using the drops he suggested for the dry eye.
0 likes, 17 replies
Anhaga amkoffee
Posted
donna60512 amkoffee
Posted
amkoffee
Posted
I was taking Omega 3 1100 mg for the dry eye and it was working great but when I got on the prednisone the eye doctor said there was no need to continue taking it because Prednisone does the same thing. But now my eyes are so bad and I'm kind of scared to get back on it if it does the same thing. I just don't know. It does have a lot of good benefits other then the dry eye.
EileenH amkoffee
Posted
Huh? Pred itself can cause dry eye - so I can't think of any reason NOT to use something that helps it.
jean39702 amkoffee
Posted
I've had eye exams every 6 months for 2+ years since receiving the diagnosis of PMR. Pressure has remained fine throughout, however, my eye glass prescription is constantly changing. Sometimes a little better in one eye, sometimes worse. I have not changed my glasses and just put up with the slightly 'out of focus' vision. I'd be in the poor house for sure if I had changed the lens every time! I also suffer from dry eye in one eye and have bluryness off and on. Lubrigating drops for dry eyes seems to relieve the problem.
amkoffee jean39702
Posted
when I went to the eye doctor for my last visit my vision ha changed slightly but like you I did not opt to change my glasses. Because I realized that such a small change would not affect my general overall vision. But this vision change is very specific. I also have problems going from close up to far away. It can take as long as 15 minutes for my eyes to adjust. But my eye doctor says that's because I'm on opiates and that that will slow down the transition. And I'm on opiates because of my bad back. And quite frankly I think it's the opiates that's causing my dry eye. Because I had dry eye long before I got on prednisone. I did look up methotrexate side effects and found that it has a rare side effect of blurred vision. It could be that but I'm not sure but I'm thinking this started before I started that drug. And besides it's listed as rare. Well I'll find out what the Dr has to say in about an hour.i want to thank everyone for their quick response to my question.
Mrs_CJ amkoffee
Posted
That's interesting that your dr says the opiates are slowing down your "transition"......which I think is him saying your eyes focus slowly. This is the exact problem I have. When I get my eyes checked I'm told my vision is ok but I keep telling him it takes me some blinking to bring things into focus....but he doesn't have much to say about that.
I think the prednisone is causing my eyes my eyes to focus more slowly. I also have trouble going from near to far focussing sometimes. I'm looking forward to hearing what you find out at your appt today.
One other thing.....a few days ago I noticed that our furnace humidifier was way too low. I've turned it up and am hopeful my eyes will feel a little better, as well as my dry skin!
amkoffee
Posted
Well I went to my doctor's appointment and he agreed that my eyes are very dry. In fact much drier than they were my previous appointment. But believe it or not I hadn't even considered the fact that I was taking Benadryl for my allergies and that's what he said was the cause of my dry eyes and that makes perfect sense. I had not even considered it. So he tends to be more how homopathic and so he recommended that I try something called a hayfever from the health food store for my allergies and to stop taking the Benadryl. He said it would take a few days to take effect and asked me if I was willing to give it a try. Well I agreed to give it a try so tomorrow I'm going to go get some and get started on it. My allergies have been totally out of control and I did make an appointment to see an allergist but cannot get in until April. So I'm going to have to deal with these terrible allergies until April. He previously had suggested that I try a hot rice bag over my eyes to help loosen the oils that are in my eyes that will keep my eyes lubricated. I had been doing that but not very often and he wants me to do that twice a day. The dry eye itself will cause focus problems so that is where my vision problems are coming from. Once I solve my dry eye problem I should be able to see again. He said if all of this doesn't work he could prescribe Restasis but he said my insurance which is Medicare does not pay for it and it cost $900 for a three month supply. I cannot believe Medicare doesn't pay for it. I'm going to call them tomorrow and ask about that. It may be that they will only pay if you've exhausted all other options. Don't know but it's worth asking. Now to address Mrs CJ comments about the transition focusing from near to far and back. It is taking my eyes as long as 15 minutes to adjust. That's a long time to not be able to see far away when I've been using my tablet. But I will adjust. I have too. Ooh and one other thing, he told me to turn down the light on the tablet and turn up the light in the room. I was using a fairly low light room. So there you have it.
EileenH amkoffee
Posted
It has been said for years that you shouldn't regularly use screens in poor lighting - whether it is TV or tablets. So many people watch TV in low ambient lighting and it isn't good for your eyes.
Mrs_CJ amkoffee
Posted
Wow...15 minutes is a long time to refocus. Mine probably take about 2 or 3 minutes.
Since I have turned up the humidity on our furnace my eyes have felt better and my hands are starting to be less dry. If you think this could be adding to your problems, you can buy an inexpensive humidity gauge to see if your home is in the "normal" range.
I have environmental sensitivities - too much pollen here in the spring when all the cherry trees are in bloom! I used to take pills but I wasn't comfortable with taking them 4 months of the year so I switched to a nasal spray. I'm not sure what type of allergies you have but you might want to experiment with a spray.
I take Flonase which is by prescription in Canada but is OTC in the US. I also tried Nasonex and a generic but had better results with the Flonase. The allergy doctor told me they have different ingredients with the main one and her patients often say they like one over another. By the way, I had allergy testing for environmental things and everything was negative.
Thank you for the info about what your eye doctor told you!
amkoffee Mrs_CJ
Posted
I take Benadryl 2 tablet twice a day and Flonase once a day control my allergies. I've been doing the Benadryl for the last 2 months. Before that I regularly too Allegra just one pill a day all the time. And would only use the Flonase if I got bad. But an early spring my allergies went haywire and I suffered through it for a while and the nasal spray wasn't doing its job so I haven't called my doctor and said what should I do and he suggested the Benadryl. So that's when I switched over.
Flutterbie57 amkoffee
Posted
My sight deteriorated rapidly in Sept. I saw the specialist in early December and he said I have rapid onset cataracts due to the pred. I will have both eye ops later this month. He is hopeful that I will no longer need to wear prescription glasses after. Fingers crossed that I don't need them any more, as they are always steamed up anyway, due to head sweats.
EileenH Flutterbie57
Posted
That is actually my dream
dea13 Flutterbie57
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Flutterbie57 dea13
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Flutterbie57 EileenH
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EileenH Flutterbie57
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No sign of cataracts at all Flutterbie, after 7 years of pred. The eye specialist laughed at me when she told me no cataracts and I complained! No change in pressures either - that's good! But being able to go without specs except for reading? In my dreams...