Eyesight going blurry sympton of?

[renidrag]

Diagnosed 8/09 with WG lung granulomas only, gone from 80 mgs pred per day to 10 this week. Still on Cytoxin, and two other meds. Not too mention Cumadin (pulmonary embolism) and Lovenox. Now my eyes are almost making everything glow,, not to mention blurry. I also have hemoragging (?) in the back of my right eye. Tested after meds started so we don't know when that started. I feel as ok as we can, just worried about the eyes.
Any Input much appreciated.

Thanks, Dale

[Terri]

Hi Dale and welcome,
I've had experience with blurry vision when I was on Cytoxin and 60 mg of Prednisone. It seemed to clear up after I had tapered down below 20 if I remember. By that time though my weight had skyrocketed and with a FULL MOON face, I wasn't seeing much past my cheeks anyway. LOL
Hang in there. We have some really good advisers on this site.

[Sangye]

Hi Dale,
Welcome to the group! Are you on both coumadin and lovenox?

I've been on both and will now stay on coumadin for life (tons of leg and lung clots all at once in '06). I was on Lovenox for 2.5 yrs and had a lot of problems with subconjunctival hemorrhages. I'd get a patch of grey in my eye that felt like someone had elbowed the eyeball. It would last about 2 days. My neuroopthalmologist said that's common with lovenox. I don't get them with coumadin.

Do you have a Wegs specialist? You're close to Dr Merkel at Boston University. You need to have your eyes thoroughly evaluated by an opthalmologist who really knows Wegs.

[elephant]

I looked up hemorrhages behind the eye and some of the causes are-hypertension, diabetes and some medicines that we take (prednisone). Being on Lovenox and coumadin would increase bleeding. Like Sangye , definitely get to a good ophthalmologist. If you start to have increase of eye pain, or more blurriness call your doctor. Welcome to this wonderful forum Dale.

[Cindy]

Hi Doug, Blurred vision in one eye was my first symptom. The inflammation caused my blood vessels to leak. You need to see an ophthalmologist that knows WG (like Sangye said). Do not assume it is from the meds - maybe maybe not.

[renidrag]

I am on both Cumadin and Lovenox until my INR stabilizes, then the Lovenox will go. So I am told. I am seeing a Pulmonary Specialist just South of Boston. He tested me for TB and quickly switched to WG after a bronchoscopy. I truly believe the man saved my life, for I was not in good condition. After following a lot of the threads on this forum, he seems to be doing everything that you all expect. Aside from that I am very comfortable with him. He did send me to the opthalmologist for a base line of the eyes but the medication had already started so I don't know when the problem started. I have an elevated pressure (although within acceptable range) and was told to see another eye doctor to have it checked. What causes the clotting? After three days in the Hospital, they inserted a filter in my vena cava. Should I expect more clotting? I appreciate your group and your willingness to share, Thank you

[Jack]

I'm afraid that increased risk of clotting is part of having Wegener's. The disease is a form of vasculitis and affects the lining of the blood vessels making them more prone to generate clots. I don't know the exact mechanism for this, but it is something that affects many of us.

[Sangye]

Jack's got it right. No one knows the specific mechanism for the increased likelihood of clots-- just general hypotheses.

Dale, I am going to nag you about getting a Wegs rheumy to oversee your care. Pulmonologists just cannot cover everything you need. I had a great one initially who also saved my life, but he was quickly in over his head and never could have managed my care properly after that.