[Rose Maclean]

Hi everyone,

My eyesight has been deteriorating fairly rapidly over the last 4 years. I saw a optician 3 years ago who fitted me with distance vision glasses which I have been using for driving. I went back yesterday because I can no longer see clearly with those glasses and the optician tested my eyes, but said there was a problem because she couldn't get me clear vision no matter what and wants to retest me in a few weeks. She was also concerned about high intraocular pressure in my right eye. She said it wasn't so high as a risk for glaucoma which is 22, mine is 19, but was concerned that my other eye had pressure of only 13. We discussed my meds, but I have only been on pred and plaq for 2 months and this way predates that. she mentioned degeneration of my connective tissues as maybe being the cause (I have been diagnosed with MCTD, Lupus with Sjogrens and rheumy suspects scleroderma). All this tells me nothing i realised as I left. Will I get glasses that I can see out of? Anyone have this experience?

Thanks Rose

 

[Zoi]

Hi Rose,

Prednisone can definitely cause an increase in one's intra-ocular pressure. I think it would be a good idea for you to ask for a referral to an opthamologist who can examine your eyes and give you more information as to what's going on with your vision and eye pressure. An eye doctor can also discuss treatment, possible causes etc with your rheumatologist and they can decide together how to best proceed and what treatment is best for your lupus and sjogrens that is the least harmful to your sight (if of course prednisone has anything to do with what's happening to your eyes).

From what I know, and this might be different in the UK or US, normal intra-occular pressure is 10 to 20 mmHG; so it sounds like the eye that had a pressure of 13 mmHG has a normal pressure.

I've never heard of degeneration of one's eye connective tissues and couldn't find much information on it online either, so I'm sorry but can't help at all there. However an opthamologist would know, or would be able to run tests to determine, whether that is the case!

Hope you get to the bottom of this soon!

:flowery:

Zoi

 

[tbunny1]

Zoi gave you some sound advice. Find an opthalmologist, (not an optometrist, who is not a MD) and get to the bottom of this.

Lupus can and does cause problems with vision, but the causes are many. Only a doctor can sort it all out, and perform the tests neccessary to find it. :lens:

My health insurance covers my eye exams for plaquenil, as it is medically neccessary. Check your insurance, you probably do not need vision care insurance to get a proper exam.

As for the plaquenil, I was told problems only begin after a long term period of being on the drug. As you have just started therapy, I would venture that is probably not an issue.

Keep us posted! Your vision is nothing to fool around with!

Tracy

 

[Rose Maclean]

Opthalmologist

Thanks for the input everyone. An opthalmologist is my next stop. Watch this space!

Thanks for the encouragement.

love rose