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Author Topic: Vision Problems  (Read 4927 times)
Restorer
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« on: June 10, 2009, 09:27:22 AM »

Anyone ever had vision problems not related to diabetes? I'm not diabetic, but a couple weeks ago I started having vision problems. On Memorial Day Sunday, I woke up with bleary vision that went away after about 30 minutes. On Monday, it lasted an hour. On Tuesday, it didn't go away, and my vision was full of glare in the light, or significantly darkened inside. I saw an ER doctor (primarily for another reason) and she said it could be related to my blood pressure, which was very high at the time (200/125, brought down to 170/120 by Betalol). 4 days later, on Saturday, the blurriness went away and I could read again, but I still had the glare/darkness.

By now, it seems to have gotten better to the point that I no longer need to use the Accessibility options on my computer, but there's still some lingering darkness. I finally have an appointment with an opthalmologist today (in about half an hour), so we'll see what he says. I was given more BP prescriptions last week, so now my BP is much better most of the day (often a bit low). I hope my vision can fully recover...
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- Matt - wasabiflux.org
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3/2007Kidney failure diagnosed5/2010In-center hemodialysis
8/2008Peritoneal catheter placed1/2012Upper arm fistula created
9/2008Peritoneal catheter replaced3/2012Started using fistula
9/2008Began CAPD4/2012Buttonholes created
3/2009Switched to CCPD w/ Newton IQ cycler            4/2012HD catheter removed
7/2009Switched to Liberty cycler            4/2018Transplanted at UCLA!
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« Reply #1 on: June 10, 2009, 11:05:36 AM »

Im not convinced its your bp , mine has been a lot higher than that for a lot longer and i' ve had no problems with my vision. I know there are some things that are renal related that can affect your vision but i didnt think high b.p. was one of them .You are more likely to get bad headaches with high bp.  (Its not old age is it ?  :rofl;)
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Restorer
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« Reply #2 on: June 10, 2009, 09:15:53 PM »

I saw the opthalmologist today. As expected, he found optic nerve swelling, and wanted to find out what's causing he. I'm waiting to be called back to schedule an MRI of my head/eyes, and a visual field test. Even though I kept saying I was on dialysis, they still sent me downstairs to have my BUN and creatinine tested to see if it was safe to give me contrast with the MRI. Of course, BUN and creatinine have nothing to do with it when your kidney function is so low that you're on dialysis. But whatever, stick me again, I like it!

Oddly, for the few hours that my eyes were artificially dilated due to the drops they gave me, I could see very well indoors - the wide dilation counteracted the darkness I've been experiencing. But outside, everything was way too bright and blurry. ;)
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- Matt - wasabiflux.org
- Dialysis Calculators

3/2007Kidney failure diagnosed5/2010In-center hemodialysis
8/2008Peritoneal catheter placed1/2012Upper arm fistula created
9/2008Peritoneal catheter replaced3/2012Started using fistula
9/2008Began CAPD4/2012Buttonholes created
3/2009Switched to CCPD w/ Newton IQ cycler            4/2012HD catheter removed
7/2009Switched to Liberty cycler            4/2018Transplanted at UCLA!
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« Reply #3 on: June 10, 2009, 09:30:45 PM »

Hi Restorer

Half way through dialysis my eyes start to blur and then they go back to normal about an hour after I come off.  It only started a couple of weeks ago and that is when I started having problems with my blood pressure. It is pretty high but I have just started taking new meds so I will see if that makes a difference.  My neph said she thought it was optic nerve swelling that caused mine and that in itself can be caused by high blood pressure and a movement of fluid behind the eye during dialysis.  The first question my neph asked me when I saw her the first time after I started dialysis was if I was having any problems with my vision.  It seems it is pretty common to have some blurred vision or sensitivity to the glare.  I am having new glasses made up to see if that makes a difference as well.  It is just one more thing that we have to contend with!
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Chris
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« Reply #4 on: June 11, 2009, 11:02:18 PM »

If it's the optic never, that's usually glaucoma and can be treated with eye drops to help not further deteriorate your vision. Did this ophthalmologist take your eye ressure? If so, was it OK?

Hopefully you caught something in time to help reverse or prevent further damage.
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Diabetes -  age 7

Neuropathy in legs age 10

Eye impairments and blindness in one eye began in 95, major one during visit to the Indy 500 race of that year
   -glaucoma and surgery for that
     -cataract surgery twice on same eye (2000 - 2002). another one growing in good eye
     - vitrectomy in good eye post tx November 2003, totally blind for 4 months due to complications with meds and infection

Diagnosed with ESRD June 29, 1999
1st Dialysis - July 4, 1999
Last Dialysis - December 2, 2000

Kidney and Pancreas Transplant - December 3, 2000

Cataract Surgery on good eye - June 24, 2009
Knee Surgery 2010
2011/2012 in process of getting a guide dog
Guide Dog Training begins July 2, 2012 in NY
Guide Dog by end of July 2012
Next eye surgery late 2012 or 2013 if I feel like it
Home with Guide dog - July 27, 2012
Knee Surgery #2 - Oct 15, 2012
Eye Surgery - Nov 2012
Lifes Adventures -  Priceless

No two day's are the same, are they?
Restorer
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« Reply #5 on: June 11, 2009, 11:16:28 PM »

I didn't know at the time what the test was for, but I think they did take my eye pressure. There was a device with a small clear plastic extension that was lit, that was touched to each eye after they gave me anesthetic drops. No one mentioned anything about unusual eye pressure, though.

Now that I know my base problem is optic nerve swelling, I did some more searching and found the term Papilledema, which is optic disc swelling caused by increased intracranial pressure. That makes the most sense to me, because my blood pressure has been up and down, and very high at times, including bad headaches. Fortunately, the prognosis for that is good - vision problems can resolve over days, weeks, or at most a couple months.

Of course we'll still see what the MRI shows. Maybe nothing of too much consequence, because at this point my blood pressure is much better controlled.
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- Matt - wasabiflux.org
- Dialysis Calculators

3/2007Kidney failure diagnosed5/2010In-center hemodialysis
8/2008Peritoneal catheter placed1/2012Upper arm fistula created
9/2008Peritoneal catheter replaced3/2012Started using fistula
9/2008Began CAPD4/2012Buttonholes created
3/2009Switched to CCPD w/ Newton IQ cycler            4/2012HD catheter removed
7/2009Switched to Liberty cycler            4/2018Transplanted at UCLA!
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« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2009, 12:20:03 AM »

I didn't know at the time what the test was for, but I think they did take my eye pressure. There was a device with a small clear plastic extension that was lit, that was touched to each eye after they gave me anesthetic drops. No one mentioned anything about unusual eye pressure, though.



Yes that was an eye pressure test. The lite is usually blue on most. Then there is also a handheld digital device that is used in some offices instead of that machine. Same drops used, but it is like a ball rolling over your eye till it beeps and a reading can be read.

Just make it a force of habbit to ask what the readings are. It is a good idea to get to know these number readings now that you have an intermitent optic nerve swelling problem. I forgot what the bad range starts at, I use to know when my eye problems began. I just know when I hear a certain number it raises a red flag and makes me aware to ask the doctor further questions.

Glad you hav a good prognosis with the research you have doneRestorer.
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Diabetes -  age 7

Neuropathy in legs age 10

Eye impairments and blindness in one eye began in 95, major one during visit to the Indy 500 race of that year
   -glaucoma and surgery for that
     -cataract surgery twice on same eye (2000 - 2002). another one growing in good eye
     - vitrectomy in good eye post tx November 2003, totally blind for 4 months due to complications with meds and infection

Diagnosed with ESRD June 29, 1999
1st Dialysis - July 4, 1999
Last Dialysis - December 2, 2000

Kidney and Pancreas Transplant - December 3, 2000

Cataract Surgery on good eye - June 24, 2009
Knee Surgery 2010
2011/2012 in process of getting a guide dog
Guide Dog Training begins July 2, 2012 in NY
Guide Dog by end of July 2012
Next eye surgery late 2012 or 2013 if I feel like it
Home with Guide dog - July 27, 2012
Knee Surgery #2 - Oct 15, 2012
Eye Surgery - Nov 2012
Lifes Adventures -  Priceless

No two day's are the same, are they?
Restorer
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« Reply #7 on: June 12, 2009, 09:57:43 PM »

What a long procedure. The MRI took a little over an hour total, first without contrast, then with. I kept falling asleep, and waking myself up with my snoring. :)

I'll hear the results from the opthalmologist next week, hopefully Monday.
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- Matt - wasabiflux.org
- Dialysis Calculators

3/2007Kidney failure diagnosed5/2010In-center hemodialysis
8/2008Peritoneal catheter placed1/2012Upper arm fistula created
9/2008Peritoneal catheter replaced3/2012Started using fistula
9/2008Began CAPD4/2012Buttonholes created
3/2009Switched to CCPD w/ Newton IQ cycler            4/2012HD catheter removed
7/2009Switched to Liberty cycler            4/2018Transplanted at UCLA!
Chris
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« Reply #8 on: June 12, 2009, 10:48:30 PM »

That's one thing I'm afraid of doing, falling aslep during a test and snoring and catching myself doing it. :banghead;
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Diabetes -  age 7

Neuropathy in legs age 10

Eye impairments and blindness in one eye began in 95, major one during visit to the Indy 500 race of that year
   -glaucoma and surgery for that
     -cataract surgery twice on same eye (2000 - 2002). another one growing in good eye
     - vitrectomy in good eye post tx November 2003, totally blind for 4 months due to complications with meds and infection

Diagnosed with ESRD June 29, 1999
1st Dialysis - July 4, 1999
Last Dialysis - December 2, 2000

Kidney and Pancreas Transplant - December 3, 2000

Cataract Surgery on good eye - June 24, 2009
Knee Surgery 2010
2011/2012 in process of getting a guide dog
Guide Dog Training begins July 2, 2012 in NY
Guide Dog by end of July 2012
Next eye surgery late 2012 or 2013 if I feel like it
Home with Guide dog - July 27, 2012
Knee Surgery #2 - Oct 15, 2012
Eye Surgery - Nov 2012
Lifes Adventures -  Priceless

No two day's are the same, are they?
Restorer
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Posts: 786


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« Reply #9 on: June 13, 2009, 10:15:52 AM »

Fortunately, the only person to catch me doing it is me. The MRI is so loud that they give you earplugs, then turn on blaring music loud enough to get past the earplugs, and the technician goes into another room. The way the MRI was set up to scan my head, my face was mostly obscured from the technician's view, so I doubt he could tell if I fell asleep, even if I did snore.

Unless there was a camera somewhere I didn't see...
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- Matt - wasabiflux.org
- Dialysis Calculators

3/2007Kidney failure diagnosed5/2010In-center hemodialysis
8/2008Peritoneal catheter placed1/2012Upper arm fistula created
9/2008Peritoneal catheter replaced3/2012Started using fistula
9/2008Began CAPD4/2012Buttonholes created
3/2009Switched to CCPD w/ Newton IQ cycler            4/2012HD catheter removed
7/2009Switched to Liberty cycler            4/2018Transplanted at UCLA!
del
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« Reply #10 on: June 13, 2009, 06:06:23 PM »

I saw the opthalmologist today. As expected, he found optic nerve swelling, and wanted to find out what's causing he. I'm waiting to be called back to schedule an MRI of my head/eyes, and a visual field test. Even though I kept saying I was on dialysis, they still sent me downstairs to have my BUN and creatinine tested to see if it was safe to give me contrast with the MRI. Of course, BUN and creatinine have nothing to do with it when your kidney function is so low that you're on dialysis. But whatever, stick me again, I like it!

Oddly, for the few hours that my eyes were artificially dilated due to the drops they gave me, I could see very well indoors - the wide dilation counteracted the darkness I've been experiencing. But outside, everything was way too bright and blurry. ;)

Restorer, hubby had similar trouble with his eyes when his blood pressure went up 9 years ago because PD had stopped working for him and he was retaining fluid.  For 8 weeks he was telling the doctors that there was something wrong with his eyes. He was lucky they started removing fluid as soon as the opthamologist saw him.  His vision was so bad that he couldn't even watch TV. Luckily with the fluid removal his vision improved.He had swelling around the optic nerve as well.  He has no trouble seeing now but he says that if he closes one of hjis eyes there is like a spot in front of the other one ( can't remember which eye it is now) that he sort of has to look around but he doesn't notice it when he has both eyes open. 
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Chris
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« Reply #11 on: June 13, 2009, 06:38:37 PM »

del, that's a sign of glaucoma if he see's that in one eye. It is due to the pressure on the optic nerve that causes it. If you go to he library or look it up on the internet, you will see examples of what one might see through their eye.I have a book that my eye doc gave me years ago when my vision problems started that has pictures of a few eye diseases that shows how one would see with their problems.

As for the MRI, the ones I have been through, the newer ones I did not need ear plugs, but all had cameras to monitor you.
« Last Edit: June 15, 2009, 12:31:13 PM by Chris » Logged

Diabetes -  age 7

Neuropathy in legs age 10

Eye impairments and blindness in one eye began in 95, major one during visit to the Indy 500 race of that year
   -glaucoma and surgery for that
     -cataract surgery twice on same eye (2000 - 2002). another one growing in good eye
     - vitrectomy in good eye post tx November 2003, totally blind for 4 months due to complications with meds and infection

Diagnosed with ESRD June 29, 1999
1st Dialysis - July 4, 1999
Last Dialysis - December 2, 2000

Kidney and Pancreas Transplant - December 3, 2000

Cataract Surgery on good eye - June 24, 2009
Knee Surgery 2010
2011/2012 in process of getting a guide dog
Guide Dog Training begins July 2, 2012 in NY
Guide Dog by end of July 2012
Next eye surgery late 2012 or 2013 if I feel like it
Home with Guide dog - July 27, 2012
Knee Surgery #2 - Oct 15, 2012
Eye Surgery - Nov 2012
Lifes Adventures -  Priceless

No two day's are the same, are they?
kitkatz
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« Reply #12 on: June 13, 2009, 07:41:04 PM »

Contrast with an MRI? Did you ask what contrast it was? There was trouble awhile ago with MRI contrasts and dialysis/ ESRD patients.
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del
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« Reply #13 on: June 15, 2009, 11:58:28 AM »

Chris the opthamologist checked for glaucoma (it's in his family - his Grandmother and almost all of her sibling went blind from it).  He is tested every time is has an eye exam and no signs of it. the problem was caused by fluid and pressure on the blood vessels on the back of the eye.  He's beeen told what he still sees is probably scar tissue.
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