Reduced vision due to drugs?

[Wegetarian]

Has your vision changed after taking Pred or MTX? Am a bit worried since I noticed last week that I had difficulties looking at some very small text on my TV. Figured I might have messed up some setting, but double checked them that they were fine. Noticed the same last Saturady when I was driving and I couldn't read signs as easily as before. I have always had good vision and never used glasses. Would seem like a weird coincidence that it would happen just now when I'm upping my MTX dose (20mg last week).

Mentioned it to my Doc last Friday but we figured we'd just monitor the situation. I hadn't really noticed it except twice when watching TV, but on Sunday when I was driving it seemed more obvious and I also figured on Monday that I think I have a harder time reading signs at the store than I used to (but it was kind of minor, hard to say how far I could read signs earlier). Anyway, since before I had only noticed it when watching TV at night when I'm usually quite tired I got a bit worried that it might be something affecting my eyes. I checked the MTX info sheet that came with the pills and it listed reduced vision as a potential side effect and said to immediately contact the doc if that happens.

I called the hospital and my doc won't have time to call until late next week, the nurse consulted a surgeon and said to not take any more MTX before I have talked to the doc.

A quick google showed that people had needed to change their glasses after being on MTX for a longer time. I also heard Pred can cause issues to your eyes, something about eye pressure and again I guess needing different glasses.

Anyway, I suppose I'll take the nurses advice and skip my this weeks MTX unless I hear from the doc. Would be interesting to hear if you guys have had any similar issues.

[Alysia]

Hi.
maybe you do need glasses.
I have glasses since I was 6 years old, (being "bookworm" :blushing: ) so I don't know how it could be without them :cool1:
but I can tell that since I started MTX, shortly after, I found that I need also glasses for reading (prob I am getting older, 45 already :sad: but the coincidence is intersting).
I think you should see eye-doc.
and insist on getting an answer from your doc about MTX.
and sleep well enough (can be from fatigue ?)

[Wegetarian]

I actually went to see our company doc yesterday, and got a note from him that gets me too visit an eye-doc (opthamologist I guess) but the first available time was Fri next week. I guess he wouldn't know about MTX either but probably a good idea to see one anyway. I was also told I could cancel the time on Thu next week when I should have talked with my regular doc.

I'm really surprised though that they couldn't arrange a phone time earlier, I mean suggesting me to stop my medications because they can't get 10 minutes of her time sounds iffy :unsure: I know she is away today, but she would be available on wed and thu so there would be two days for her two try to squeeze me in before I skip my meds. I do understand she must be very busy though.

[mishb]

Hey Wege,

I guess it wouldn't be a bad idea to see an Opthamologist anyway.

When I started on my medications it was suggested that I see one every 6 months due to changes that pred can cause - they didn't say MTX.
I also take plaquenil which can cause glaucoma, which is another reason I need to go.

- so far (touch wood) so good.

I guess, as I get closer to the age of 50 and onwards years, I will probably find that the eyes will start to deteriorate - but hopefully just from age and not from any meds

[drz]

Pred really messes with your vision. doctors told me there was no point in trying to fix my vision with new glasses since nothing would work for long as pred dosage changed. When it got bad enough to have cataract surgery that really improved my vision so I can get by without glasses except for close up reading or when I want 20/20 distant vision. You can drive fine with 20/30 or even 20/40 vision in most states without glasses.

[Wegetarian]

Thanks for the comments! Wen't for a quick eye-exam at the mall, they said my distant vision was impaired and glasses would help me. Booked a more thorough exam for Friday when they check what kind of glasses I'd need. It was free, so figured what the heck. Won't get glasses before I talk with my docs though.

drz, do you know if that's something which will return to normal when/if I'm off Pred, or is it permanent?

[Wegetarian]

One more thing, I wonder if its the Pred causing it because I'm now on only half the dose that I was a month ago, while we have been upping the MTX each week (currently 20mg). Just seems like a weird coincidence.

[drz]

Thanks for the comments! Wen't for a quick eye-exam at the mall, they said my distant vision was impaired and glasses would help me. Booked a more thorough exam for Friday when they check what kind of glasses I'd need. It was free, so figured what the heck. Won't get glasses before I talk with my docs though.

drz, do you know if that's something which will return to normal when/if I'm off Pred, or is it permanent?

If pred causes cataracts that becomes permanent until they are removed with an easy surgery. Other changes heal them self as much of it is due to excess dryness or excess tears and some times changes in blood sugar which also affects your vision.Try some refresh eye drops (artificial tears) and see if that gives you any temporary help. Check BG level if you have a friend with diabetes and a BG test kit. Other wise see any ophthalmologist to get info on what physical changes are affecting your vision.

[Wegetarian]

Thanks drz :) I know I said it before, but I really like to have you in this forum. :hug3:

[pwc51]

My experience - I was fairly short sighted before WG struck. 18 months after diagnosis, having been on high dose prednisolone and having had many very high dose steroid infusions, my eyes were noticeably deteriorating. The optician increased the prescription by about 30%. I asked if this change was normal to which they said 'no' but they could not see anything wrong! I asked for a referal to my doctor who then referred me to a specialist. Cataracts were immediately diagnosed. (apparently medication induced ones are different from the more natural ones)

The treatment was simple and painless - after nearly 55 years of wearing glasses I now have really good vision with no correction apart from for reading / computer work.

[pberggren1]

All Weggies should see an Ophthalmologist when changes occur suddenly like this. And of course with a yearly checkup.

[mishb]

If pred causes cataracts that becomes permanent until they are removed with an easy surgery. Other changes heal them self as much of it is due to excess dryness or excess tears and some times changes in blood sugar which also affects your vision.Try some refresh eye drops (artificial tears) and see if that gives you any temporary help. Check BG level if you have a friend with diabetes and a BG test kit. Other wise see any ophthalmologist to get info on what physical changes are affecting your vision.

My Rhuemy told me to invest in a BG test kit when I first started pred.
Just another of the wonderful things that pred can do, is increase your sugar levels.
He suggested I test it once a week and if it starts going outside the charts, to get to the GP for more thorough testing.......thankfully, it has remained within normal limits

[Wegetarian]

All Weggies should see an Ophthalmologist when changes occur suddenly like this. And of course with a yearly checkup.

Yeah, I guess I can't remember when I was at an Ophthalmologist the last time. Must probably be over 10 years.

I guess most people are talking about long term effects. Been only 6 weeks on pred and just recently started taking MTX (5mg, 10mg, 15, 15, 20).

Well lets see what the docs say... Today would be my MTX day but I'll skip it unless the doc calls. Not too happy about getting glasses, but I hope my vision won't get worse anyway.

[Alysia]

Thanks drz :) I know I said it before, but I really like to have you in this forum. :hug3:

we all do :love:

[drz]

we all do :love:

i am glad to be able to be here.:biggrin1::blushing:

[Mizamonie]

My husband's vision changed with prednisone and methotrexate in particular. Also diuretics like furosemide worsen vision. Just one more thing to deal with :(

[Wegetarian]

Just a quick update (cross posted in my new-members thread too). Went to the optician, and could see well with their lense-thingy so glasses should fix my vision. She did say my eye pressure was a bit elevated and it would be good to go see an ophthalmologist. I'll see one next week and discuss if my vision is expected to change a lot. If so then I'll just get the cheapest glasses I suppose. Never worn glasses before.

[Alysia]

If so then I'll just get the cheapest glasses I suppose. Never worn glasses before.

I suggest you to buy the most "light" glasses you can find (titanium-based is best) with the most light lens. the reason is not to burden the poor nose, which is already aching...

[Wegetarian]

Ah, good point. Didn't really think about the weight. Someone said the cheapo ones might come with those thick lenses so yeah, they'd probably add some weight.

Hmm... since its mainly my right eye which is affected maybe I should just get a monocle :D

http://rlv.zcache.com.au/lulzsec_monocle_guy_postcard-r0a4a2289d2c640d0b7917d95bae1ecc5_vgbaq_8byvr_324. jpg

[carriej22]

Pred causes eye pressure to increase, I had some pretty bad problems (I was on 100mg of pred a day, 25mg every 6 hours) with my eyes. I would get bad double vision, lights seemed to have all this "glowy stuff" around them and I felt like I was always needing to blink to clear my eyes. Luckily, with decreasing pred it has improved. However, I do believe my eyes are still a little weird - but much much better and for that I am thankful.

[greenjeep]

I had 20/20 until about a year ago. Suddenly during a cytoxan infusion my vision went blurry. I blamed the chemo, but all my docs just laughed at me and told me I was just getting old. I ended up getting glasses and have been wearing them for about 3 or 4 months, but my docs still assured me that the only visual side effect to steroids was cataracts. But now I wander...

[Mizamonie]

Hi Greenjeep,
There are lots of documents on-line about cytoxin and sudden blurry vision. It's disheartening when doctors don't take what you say seriously.

[greenjeep]

Hi Greenjeep,
There are lots of documents on-line about cytoxin and sudden blurry vision. It's disheartening when doctors don't take what you say seriously.
had anything to do with cytoxan. I'll have to look into it. Thanks for this post!!
I haven't heard anything about this. I even talked to my hematologist about it and he didn't think it

[greenjeep]

I don't know how my previous post got so messed up. sorry. The line wrapped back on top somehow.

[Psyborg]

Steroids definitely gave me cataracts. Still waiting for my vision to deteriorate enough to need surgery. Kind of annoying blurriness, but it doesn't stop my activities yet. No point in a surgery before it's needed.

[drz]

Steroids definitely gave me cataracts. Still waiting for my vision to deteriorate enough to need surgery. Kind of annoying blurriness, but it doesn't stop my activities yet. No point in a surgery before it's needed.

The corrective lenses work great too at first but with aging the eyes will change and you can need other regular glasses that need changing. The older you are, the less changes will happen after surgery.