[Wander]

Hey all!

Today I was trying to study I couldn't read anything close to me while I had my glasses (for short-sightedness) on and everything close to me was blurry. I can still see things far away with my glasses on, just not what is close to me.

Odd thing is, that if I take my glasses off I can read and see close things perfectly but the short sightedness remains so i can't see far away objets.

Could it be the medication? Anyone else had an experience like this before. It has been creeping up on me for a week or two right in line with two med changes - the addition of Haldol and massive increase in Abilify. I also take Lithium, prozac (very low dose due to mania issues) and clonzepam.

It just seems weird that I can see fine without my glasses for close up things but not with my other glasses on. I have never had this problems and last year I had my eyes tested and they are healthy.

I am so confused and frustrated as it makes study difficult.

We've talked about this so you know I experience something similar. Mine *seems* to be anxiety and blood pressure related so I'm trying a new blood pressure med and will report back if it's helpful. I use a cheap pair of reading glasses when the blurring gets really bad and it's helpful unless I'm in psychosis....then I simply cannot read period. BlueBicycle mentioned having vision issues on abilify if I remember correctly so meds can cause this too I believe (not sure I'm remembering correctly, perhaps blue will respond and clarify). I'm sorry it's making studying difficult and hope you find or receive the answers you seek. I hope you are doing well Wander. ((Hugs))

Definitely can be the medication. My eyesight was always blurrier on meds. Reading was the bigger issue. Some of it was aging for me also, but the meds were a large factor.

[Sunflower123]

You could check with your pdoc or pharmacist to see if this is a side effect. Thanks for bringing up a good point. Having some trouble with my vision and have started 2 new medications over the past several months.

[Wander]

Thanks guys, if this doesn't stop I will contact my pdoc on Monday. I see him Wednesday too so hopefully he will have an idea of what is happening. Sound like a common side-effect. I just hope it's not the Haldol as it is working wonders for me. Brough me down from mixed mania and stabilised me.

[wildflowerchild25]

I had that happen with lamictal. I was really hoping it would work for me but I couldn't see anything close up so I had to go off of it :-/ I hope you figure out a solution!

I also get a lot of eye pain. My eyes hurt so bad, feel diseased and sickly, strained and burning. This all began when not on meds for me so that is why I'm leaning more towards it being an anxiety/stress/blood pressure issue. If this is new for you, I would definitely get it checked out. I hope it's not the haldol since that's been so effective for you. Good luck. I'm having increased vision issues recently and I told you about my one episode with losing words which was so scary. I'm hoping the new blood pressure med will have my eyes feeling better than they have in years. Blood pressure (which can spike during anxiety) can cause vision loss. I'm also 42 and need to get new glasses with some bifocals. Both of my parents had vision changes right at age 40 so genetically, it was bound to happen to me too.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I had double vision/blurry vision on abilify. I actually had to be off work for several weeks because of it; I couldn't drive. I had to stop it (I was only on 2.5 mg) and things went back to normal.

I've had a few meds that messed with my vision and it is so frustrating. I hope your pdoc can fix it for you.

[Wonderfalls]

If you can't see far away that's called nearsightedness. If you can't see well close up then you're farsighted. Most people become farsighted as they age and need reading glasses; that's because your eyes change shape as you age. I had been nearsighted for most of my life and I needed glasses for that. Of course when I was wearing those glasses things up close were blurry. I used graduated lenses so I wouldn't have to keep taking my glasses on and off. Weirdly--but not uncommonly--I lost my nearsightedness when it became harder and harder to read. Now bifocals work perfectly for me.

Cogentin at a dose of 3mg blurred my close-up vision enough that I couldn't even see to read with glasses. When I stopped taking it that went away.

[~Christina]

Numerous medications caused that problem for me , Some resolved on its own, some I had to dump the med.

I hope you find relief soon

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Yes a few meds have done that to me too. There's times I had to pull my car over. Because I'd start seeing double. Made me so dizzy I couldn't walk so they sent me to the ER to make sure it was just med related and not neurological.

[bioChE]

Lamictal at a dose higher than 200mg gives me blurry and double vision.

[Wander]

I just contacted the hospital and told them about my vision problems and they are going to contact my pdoc. Hopefully my pdoc will respond even though it's a Sunday. It is really effecting my study.

[Wander]

Pdoc contacted me yesterday and suggested I halve my Haldol from 10-5mg and to contact him today if my vision is still a problem. Unfortunately is is still very bad. I am typing this and the text on the screen is blurry with or without glasses at a normal distance. Only if I put the screen inches from my eyes can I read it and with glasses it is even worse. The fact that it cane on suddenly makes me think it is meds.

I am terrified this is permeant. I would lose my job, my licence and have to stop studying. Will contact my doc later this morning and see what he suggests. I am so scared by this.

[wildflowerchild25]

Mine went away after I stopped lamictal but it took a few days to get it out of my system. It is unlikely that it's permanent. Try not to freak yourself out.

[raspberrytorte]

I have that problem too. With my glasses on I can't see close up. I had to buy reading glasses! But when I take my normal glasses off I can't see things close just fine. It's so weird!

[BrittanyAnn2609]

Prozac messes with my eyes. I'm on 40mg tho

[Wander]

Got an emergency appointment with my pdoc this afternoon. He asked me to stop the Haldol and said my eyes should go back to normal in 48 hours. If not he will try reducing/stopping other meds. I feel less worried now but the next two days will be stressful as I wait to get my vision back.

(((Hugs))). Good luck Wander. Keep us posted on your progress.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by Wander

Got an emergency appointment with my pdoc this afternoon. He asked me to stop the Haldol and said my eyes should go back to normal in 48 hours. If not he will try reducing/stopping other meds. I feel less worried now but the next two days will be stressful as I wait to get my vision back.

(((((( wander ))))))

I hope you get this sorted out.

WC

[Wander]

MY EYES ARE BETTER!!!!!

Thanks for all your support

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I was just wondering how you were doing, within the last 60 seconds. So glad it is good news!