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My medications are rapidly damaging my vision really worried
gregrichards
Posts: 4,913 Forum Member
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I got a bombshell last week at the opticians I have been getting horrendous headaches and my vision is blurred. I was told my medications are damaging my optic nerve and it is likely to get worse as time progresses. I am being referred to see a opthamology specialist at the hospital. I need to get new glasses again this year I'm waiting for them to be ready. My papa is blind and I am really worried I am going to be in the same boat. Coming off five of my drugs is not going to be an option as I will likely be on them for life.
Has anyone else gone through this and do you have any advice? I am really frightened and have been in tears as the optician couldn't provide any reassurance just said to hope for the best. I'm not on the wind up I promise.
I'm in hospital at the moment I have been really weak all week it was so bad today that I couldn't stand up & they are trying to investigate what the cause is.
Has anyone else gone through this and do you have any advice? I am really frightened and have been in tears as the optician couldn't provide any reassurance just said to hope for the best. I'm not on the wind up I promise.
I'm in hospital at the moment I have been really weak all week it was so bad today that I couldn't stand up & they are trying to investigate what the cause is.
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I have no advice or knowledge on this but just wanted to send you my best wishes and I hope that they can help you xx
Yes, take care Greg
Sorry I can't offer any advice.
It might be difficult at the moment but please try and remain calm. What I'd suggest is asking and ensuring that the results of the consultation with the ophthalmologist are shared with your GP and with all the other specialist consultants who are caring for you so that they can, as appropriate, modify your treatment plan to try to minimise any eye damage. You have my good wishes at this time.
Thanks for this advice I will do. I am being referred to a specialist eye care centre which is highly regarded so at least I know I will be at the best place for treatment. I'm trying to remain calm its just the not knowing how bad it is going to get on top of all my other problems that is hard to cope with.
Thanks to all of you for all your best wishes I really do appreciate it. The hospital think I have a bad viral infection as my chest x-Ray and blood tests have came back normal. I'm still very weak but a little better today.
Hope your all having a nice weekend and thanks again.
No unfortunately my morphine for severe pain, my nerve pain drug Pregablin, my anti-depressant Mirtazapine, ibuprofen for pain and my Levitra all cause optic nerve damage and vision problems. Some of my other drugs cause vision problems too. The alternatives for these drugs all cause vision problems because they more or less have the same make up. It's a nightmare but I will see what my consultants say. I can't come off my pain killers as I am in constant pain and if I change my anti-depressant I might feel more suicidal. I have been on other anti-depressants before and I was in a bad way mentally with them I just thought I wanted to die all the time.
Actually do you eat much vitamin A? I'm aware Vitamin A is good for eyes so I would ensure you were getting an adequate intake of Vitamin A in your diet as it might help.
I would speak to your GP to see if a Vitamin A supplement would be ok to take with your meds to see that there's not any interactions that could happen.
Hope you feel better soon.
Thank you so much yes this is great advice. I will increase my carrot intake or take it as a supplement as soon as I can. I will try anything that might help.
Many thanks I appreciate it.
Thank you I am very grateful. I'm sorry to all of you for going on like a broken record about my never ending health problems. I'm genuinely grateful for all your replies and kindness. I feel really weak again, my head is killing me and I can't sleep. Hopefully I will feel better soon. Best wishes to all of you going through your own health problems.
An optician didnt pick up my optic neuritis. An Opthamologist at an eye hospital confirmed that it was my optic nerve was causing the issues.
The tests were pretty thorough and involved looking at lots of stuff in different lights. Looking at colour blindness type tests
Then there was the evoked potential neurological tests where my brain to eye activity was monitored.
Thats when my optic nerve problems were picked up and diagnosed correctly.
Wish my optician picked mine up so quickly.
You have said you are unwell with a viral infection at the moment, and it maybe that the infection is the underlying cause of your headaches and blurred vision. Once you are recovered from that, you may find your vision is okay again.
Lots of people are on medication similar to your regime of treatment, and if blindness was an inevitable consequence, then there would be a lot more publicity about such dreadful side-effects.
Feel better soon.
Hi Thanks everyone for your replies and best wishes you are all very kind.
Thanks for your reply Chocaholic100 I appreciate it. The optician did retinal scans of my eyes and showed me the differences when compared to my last scans. She identified all the issues and explained that it was not normal to have that amount of deterioration in less than ten months. The optician then went through my medications and highlighted the ones which were likely to be causing the damage. I double checked and each one has rare but very real risks of vision problems, optic nerve damage and in some instances blindness What she told me frightened the life out of me and I asked how bad things could get and she couldn’t tell me.
My consultants have said since I have had terrible headaches and blurred vision for a few months it is unrelated to any infection I currently have. Although it isn't helping the headaches.
Going back to the optician she urged me to get my blood pressure checked which I did and it was fine and get a referral to see an Opthamology specialist to assess the damage further. I was told to find out if any of my medications can be swapped but I have been told by my consultants that all the medications in each group of medications contain the same ingredient which causes the damage. I can’t stop any of my medications either so it is a very difficult situation I would gladly flush them all down the toilet but I can’t.
Was your optic nuritis caused by a medication? Did you stay on the same medication and have your eyes deteriorated further since the diagnosis? I hope you don't mind me asking I don't know anyone else with these kind of eye problems. Best wishes to you it is a very worrying situation having problems with your eyes.
I'm still as weak as anything I need help getting out of bed its hellish and really frustrating. I had plans for things I wanted to do and I can't do them.
Hope your all having a nice weekend & thanks again for your kindness.
Seconded and best wishes Greg
Thanks I really appreciate it.
Many thanks.
I will post an update in the thread once I see the specialist to let you know how I get on.
Hope you all have a great week and have a nice time if you are away on holiday.
That's a shame spookyLX I hope you get your appointment soon and they can do something with your medication. It was a shock to me that medications can damage your eyes I didn't know that till I got my eye test.