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Posted 9/19/2012 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
I've notice my vision has altered lately.

I can't seem to have enough light to see. When I read I need to turn on a lamp even with an overhead light on.

When I drive at night the headlights don't seem enough and I can't see landmarks. The signs are "ghosting" so much they are unreadable. I see two white lines...one is like a ghost shadow.

I had my vision checked 6 months ago and the doctor said there was a very slight change in my left eye perscription but since it was so slight I really didn't need glasses.

I'm seeing the eye doctor again next week for my twice yearly checkup due to my glucoma.

I'm 44 and had laser surgery when I was 38. I was so nearsighted before the surgery I was almost blind without my glasses.

I'm afraid the plaquenil has affected my vision. shocked

Those who where removed from plaquenil for toxicity what was your vision like before removal? confused

Posted 9/19/2012 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
Try this online quicktest -
www.sw-eng.com/plaquenil-eyes.html
Posted 9/19/2012 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
Tried it... :(

Definately some thing is going on. :(
Posted 9/19/2012 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
I tried it and lines were missing and distorted and i am not on plaquenil...
Posted 9/19/2012 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
I'll mention the grid to my doctor next week.
Posted 9/20/2012 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
Amy - Are you using a device with a cracked and broken screen or were you drinking or what the heck is going on?!!!
Posted 9/20/2012 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Joy. Lupus can cause some eye problems too. I have had double vision several periods that have lasted hours to days and I had a 4 month period when I couldn't drive- everything flashed by and confused me. My ophthalmologist has never found anything wrong, but whenever I hear a doc say that I follow him by saying "Just lupus, I guess." I hope yours is nothing serious. Love, Butterflake
Posted 9/20/2012 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
My Retina doctor gives me that test every appointment I have with him (and since I had surgery in April, I have had several). The lines have always looked strange to me. They look like they are light, dark, and wave-like. There was once that I saw them as actual waves, and that was right before I had the surgery. It looked as if someone took the page and bent it so that there was a lump where the grid was. I actually first noticed that it was doing that while reading on the computer. It was strange. It still happens sometimes, but my eyes are okay. Hopefully it is nothing for you too.

Oh, and in your sig you say you have glaucoma. I know the ghosting is a sign of increased pressure in the eyes. Is that a possibility for you?
Posted 9/20/2012 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
It's a possibility it could be my glaucoma. It's been pretty stable for several years now, but it could be giving me trouble again.

I have the open Angle Glaucoma kind. The Eye Doctor told me it was the best kind to have if you had to have it.
Posted 9/20/2012 4:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Joy:

Sorry to hear you are having issues with your vision. It's really scary when troubles begin with the eyes. I noted that you have glaucoma but it's been stable, which is good. I have been on plaquenil for 11 years now and my Drs have talked about toxicity.

They haven't taken me off the medication though. I, like you seem to never have enough light to see when reading or trying to do something thats small. Driving at night I see halo's. I can't remember if you are on steroids or not, but steroids can cause cateracts. I have been on prednisone for over 11 years now and I have cateracts in both eyes. My right eye is worse than the left. There is no way to get rid of them except for surgery. I am finally to that point, I think I need surgery.

It doesn't thrill me to much with the thought of them messing with my eye, but the halo's, double and blurry vision is starting to be to much. I'd ask your eye doc to check you for cateracts. Hope you get it worked out soon. Try not to worry to much, as you know it's not good for us. Take care and keep us updated.

Hugs,
Barbara
Posted 9/20/2012 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on inhaled steriods for many years for my asthma. I get at least 2-3 tapering packs a year.

The "ghosting" is what bothers me the most.
Posted 9/20/2012 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Joy,

I feel for you, try not to worry to bad, as you know it can set you off in a flare. When will you see your eye Dr? I will be sending loads of prayers your way. Keep us posted on what he/she has to say.

Hugs,
Barbara
Posted 9/20/2012 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
I see him on the 24th of this month.
He's supposed to be the best doctor for catracts and glaucoma in the area.
Posted 9/22/2012 4:39 AM (GMT 0)
I read everything I can find on lupus, looking for answers to my many questions. When I saw this post I thought, I had found an answer to my problem but I am the exact opposite of what you are dealing with. Instead I can't deal with the light, I am using night lights around my home and can only deal with short periods of time on the computer. The light hurts my eyes and they water to the point that I can't see.

It seems like there is a pattern or similarities to our health problems. Fibromyalgia, Asthma, Alergies problems with the thyroid but I haven't noticed others out there with sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome . . . yet.

Gentle hugs,
Jeannie
Posted 9/23/2012 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
Sleep apnea here, too! I forgot I had it. :))
Stupid fog! :P

I described what I was seeing to my mom and she said it sounded like I was seeing double.
Posted 9/23/2012 4:13 AM (GMT 0)
Most of us with Lupus become sensitive to a lot of light - this photo sensitivity extends to the skin, not just the eyes.

But, on the other hand, changes in our eyesight - often due to age or drug side effects - may cause us to need more light to see when the surrounding areas are dark.

And yes, Lupus patients do show up with sleep apnea and restless leg -- I think if you search the forum with those terms you'll fidn examples.

The very best thing to do with either eye condition is to consult your own rheumy and ophthalmologist -- people who know the details of your personal health, history and meds.

Vision is a scary thing to mess with, isn't it?!
Posted 9/23/2012 6:38 AM (GMT 0)
Yep sleep apena here too. Actually, I have two types Obstructive Sleep Apena, and Central Sleep Apena. It's very complicated and I can not sleep w/o my VPAP machine at anytime. Last year I was found unresponsive by my 18 year old daughter and ended up on life support for 5 days. Since then, I've had 4 more episodes and they're pretty sure it's related to my Central Sleep Apena. My hubby leaves in the morning for work and worries that I may fall asleep w/o coming to bed and putting on my mask and starting my machine. If that happens, most likely, if I did that and was home alone all day, he'd come home to find me dead. Talk about stress on your spouse, I hate it I feel like such a burden to him and my daughter.

My daughter just recently mentioned that she's afraid to possibly spend Thanksgiving with just me and her home. I'm very very sick and she's frightened of what happened last year may happen again. It just tears me up that I've put that fear into her.

Anyway, sorry I got off on a tangent. Jeannie welcome to our forum and I hope that if you have sleep apena it's not to bad. Looking forward to getting to know you. Ask away on any questions, lots of good people here.

Hugs,
Barbara
Posted 9/24/2012 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
When I was first diagnosed with Celiac Sprue I had a severe vitamin A deficiency. I had to go to and endo and they gave me such high quantities of A it would kill a normal person. I was under strict medical supervision and had so many bloodtest that I thought I was a human pin cushion. The good part is all the night blindness and the day darkness went away.

I was extreme...buy check with your doctor and have you A level checked. Good Luck!
Posted 9/24/2012 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
Doctor said everything was good except my night vision shifted a little and I'll need glasses to drive at night.
Posted 10/3/2012 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Couchtater!!!

Glad to hear your vision isn't going too wonky.

Posted 10/4/2012 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
I had laser vision correction several years ago and the doctor told me this could happen over time. He also said I'd probably need bifocials later due to aging.
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