Peri and vision? Options

[Lady E]

Has anyone else had issues with their eyesight since starting peri?I have a lot more floaters,my eyes get achey and sometimes I feel like my eyesight is hazy,especially when the heat is on.I never had these problems before.The floaters drive me nuts,and since it is winter the dry air makes it worse.Anyone else?

[Gracie2006]

About the time my Peri hit with a vengeance I was diagnosed with dry eye syndrome. Shortly after that I got floaters, and more recently was diagnosed with an early cataract in one eye. Sometimes it's hard to know what is just the result of normal aging (floaters and cataracts for many are in that category) and what is hormonal (The dry eyes in my case). I get hazy vision because of my DES and because of my cataract.

[guitarplayer]

*leaning forward to the computer screen to see properly*

YES!! Before peri it seemed I never had to have the prescription changed for my contact lenses. I had no trouble....nada.

NOW? See the sunglasses? yep....I can now say my eyes are more sensitive to light, I have floaters in my vision sometimes and I have this weird thing where I had visual disturbances like little marks all thru my vision but I would only see them when I squinted or had the sun in my face....but it still worried me. It was something new so I had it checked out. Three times. And all three times I was told all is fine. After really having a good, long talk with my eye doctor I asked him what he thought it might be? He said he could see a tiny wrinkle in the back of my eye and maybe that was what I was seeing. He told me the things I should worry about are bright lights in my vision that don't go away and that stay in the same place...usually off to the sides. (well, he said something like that.....don't quote me, but I know what I mean ).

I also had a scary experience in 2006 when I DID have a patch of blue light in my field of vision and it wouldn't go away. After the second day it made reading impossible so I saw the eye doctor who sent me to a retina specialist. I had an eye edema but was told it was resolving and was nothing to worry about. I'm very careful now with anything relating to my eyes.........

Peri is scary.

Now. ....*squinting* where is that ADD REPLY button.......doohickie ...thingamajig....

[guitarplayer]

Oh, I forgot to mention my contact lenses prescription changes a LOT....I don't know if that is peri related...but I do know that I never had to have it changed as much and as often as I do now.

[havsavconmom]

I have had weird eye symptoms, too. My eyes feel very dry, although they water frequently. I feel almost like pressure behind my eyes and need sunglasses more. My visual acuity hasn't really changed, but my eyes seem to be "tired". I notice I seem to be getting headaches more frequently, too. But is this because of my eyes or my raging hormones? Probably, the latter, which I assume the eye thing is just another symptom of. Was told AGAIN this week by another doc that I am too young for peri (32) and that he was sure my hormones were fine because I was able to become pregnant very easily and carry babies. At this point, I have about decided to take all my nervous energy (or lack of) and go to medical school and find a way to help myself! I feel like I've already learned enough about this stuff to start lecturing somewhere!!!!!

[Lady E]

I have had weird eye symptoms, too. My eyes feel very dry, although they water frequently. I feel almost like pressure behind my eyes and need sunglasses more. My visual acuity hasn't really changed, but my eyes seem to be "tired". I notice I seem to be getting headaches more frequently, too. But is this because of my eyes or my raging hormones? Probably, the latter, which I assume the eye thing is just another symptom of. Was told AGAIN this week by another doc that I am too young for peri (32) and that he was sure my hormones were fine because I was able to become pregnant very easily and carry babies. At this point, I have about decided to take all my nervous energy (or lack of) and go to medical school and find a way to help myself! I feel like I've already learned enough about this stuff to start lecturing somewhere!!!!!

I am 32 also!! My dr said I was definately having hormone trouble,probably peri after I charted my symptoms and my cycle changed.Do not give up you know your body!

[gyzwyf83]

add me to the list of visual stuff going on since peri started. actually, i was so relieved when i saw this topic come up and read what some of you are experiencing with your vision!

over the last year or so, it's been one thing after another with my eyes. been to the eye doc several times and was told that everything looked fine, except that the astigmatism had gotten worse. the vision in just one eye is getting worse and that kind of freaked me out. besides the vision in that eye being different, it feels different. i can't really even explain it to you, except that it just feels different, like swollen or something.

am also more sensitive to bright light. if a room is dim, forget about it! i'm still looking to find a happy medium.

and then there is the eye muscle discomfort when i look at something real close for any length of time. what's that about?!



gyz

[stitchnanny]

I have had many eye changes and vision problems since starting peri. Lord it is the pits too. I have dry eyes, my prescription has changed, my pressure has raised, I have floaters and hazy vision.

This hormonal stuff is the pits!!!!

[alexsmom]

Has anyone else had issues with their eyesight since starting peri?I have a lot more floaters,my eyes get achey and sometimes I feel like my eyesight is hazy,especially when the heat is on.I never had these problems before.The floaters drive me nuts,and since it is winter the dry air makes it worse.Anyone else?

I have also noticed a change in my vision...they seem to burn and feel blurry a lot...and I have floaters as well.

[LadyNRed1997]

I developed floaters and ocular migraines. The ocular migraines were scary because it was like looking thru a fishbowl or something. The peripheral vision was watery looking. I don't get them often, but they get me nervous when they do come.

[Lady E]

I developed floaters and ocular migraines. The ocular migraines were scary because it was like looking thru a fishbowl or something. The peripheral vision was watery looking. I don't get them often, but they get me nervous when they do come.

I had the kind of migraine where it feels like someone stabbing you in the eye-is that what you had?It was awful!

[Jazzbyrd]

I had the kind of migraine where it feels like someone stabbing you in the eye-is that what you had?It was awful!

I had the one where it felt like my head was in a vice !!! and someone was tightening the screw!!

My eyes seem to be worst first thing in the morning it seems to take for ever to be able to focus!!


Which one of you said PERI IS SCARY!! ~DAMN RIGHT!!

JAZZ

[guitarplayer]

PERI IS SCARY, that was "me!" The music lady!

It seems every day something comes along to scare us, freak us out or just plain make us on edge. I mean, LITERALLY, it's every day; another symptom.
I hope we all get some peace soon.

[neucindy]

I was so happy to see this post about vision problems and peri. I am losing my mind. Over the past year dry eye has come and gone, but now it will not go away, I am struggling to even have a good day. Does anyone have any ways to make it better? I have read many suggestions concerning fish oil and dry eyes. Does this ever go away ever? I will tell you I hate this peri thing so much, I feel like I have turned into a hypocondriac and that I am losing control of everything. If you look at that list of 34 symptoms of peri, I am the poster for it. Everytime some new thing comes up I just look there first to see if it could possibly be part of it. Thanks for listening!!!

[Mrs Barista]

Floaters are troublesome. I do a lot of computer work and am always having to look down then up to "move" them out of the way. My opthamologist sent a letter to my doctor about them a couple of years back as they got worse but she was not at all concerned. They seem to have stabilised now thank goodness.

[XIII]

Yesterday, I had a particularly bad day as far as my hot flashes are concerned. There was a period around 9pm when I must have had 30 flashes within the hour, it was crazy!
Talk about taking over your life. I lay awake for many hours during the night because I felt so ill. I am 18 months post and it is just getting worse and worse. How naive I was to think that the end of peri would bring relief!
This morning in response to all this, my eyes were horribly dry and sort of gloopy, making my vision blurred. I have no doubt that my vaso motor difficulties are linked to my eye problems. They feel very itchy and allergic this evening. The problems also affect nose. throat, sinuses and upper respiratory and GI tract. I can only assume that this is oestrogen withdrawal from mucous membranes.
When my symptoms get overpowering like this, I keep thinking of my GP's face when I ask for help. I keep seeing that gormless, vaguely disinterested stare that he always resorts to and I can't help feeling angry. I understand that it can't be treated without resorting to hormones but it is the lack of empathy that ticks me off!

Rant over!
Its back to coping.................sigh.

XIII

[joyceveronica]

Yesterday, I had a particularly bad day as far as my hot flashes are concerned. There was a period around 9pm when I must have had 30 flashes within the hour, it was crazy!
Talk about taking over your life. I lay awake for many hours during the night because I felt so ill. I am 18 months post and it is just getting worse and worse. How naive I was to think that the end of peri would bring relief!
This morning in response to all this, my eyes were horribly dry and sort of gloopy, making my vision blurred. I have no doubt that my vaso motor difficulties are linked to my eye problems. They feel very itchy and allergic this evening. The problems also affect nose. throat, sinuses and upper respiratory and GI tract. I can only assume that this is oestrogen withdrawal from mucous membranes.
When my symptoms get overpowering like this, I keep thinking of my GP's face when I ask for help. I keep seeing that gormless, vaguely disinterested stare that he always resorts to and I can't help feeling angry. I understand that it can't be treated without resorting to hormones but it is the lack of empathy that ticks me off!

Rant over!
Its back to coping.................sigh.

XIII

Dear X111

It is your decision not to take hormones but this does not mean you should be treated with disdain.Have you tried any herbal supplements or alternative treatments that perhaps maybe of help to you.After all there are many women who have decided to go the natural route.

Hopefully somebody will have some good advice for you.however,I do sympathise as all that sweating must leave you feeling completely warn out.Have heard that Primrose Oil can help.

I also suffer with Sinuses very badly and have been on antibiotics three times.Am at my wits end as the congestion and pain are awful.Have found that putting a teaspoon of Vicks into a bowl of steaming water then covering my head with a towels as I breathe in the vapours does give some relief.

Hope you will enjoy some better days soon

Warm Wishes
Elizabeth

[XIII]

Hi Elizabeth,

Since the peri years when I suffered with a lot of IBS I am now intolerant to most medications. I do not tolerate any kind of supplement or vitamin well. It is as if all the havoc the fluctuating hormones caused have left my gut sort of leaky and unable to withstand all but the most bland foodstuffs. Sariah and I suspect that I have thyroid issues but my doctor refuses to do any tests and says that my symptoms are all menopausal and are unlikely to be linked to thyroid issues. Yesterday I really was very poorly and I lost my voice completely and suffered a lot of pain around the thyroid. In the UK we suffer healthcare rationing badly and it is quite likely that he is reluctant to do any tests because he wants to save money. Doing what is best for the patient just doesn't come into it. In the UK, those days are long gone. It leaves patients in a terrible position. If a patient insists on seeing a doctor privately they can be subjected to unecessary abuse. There is a lot of arrogance about!
Most days I manage and just before Christmas I went through a really good patch where my hot flashes improved greatly. I have to believe that I will get through all this and come out on the other side smiling. Somedays I just loose my nerve and yesterday was one of them. I sometimes wonder how my GP would react if he had my symptoms for just 24 hours. My guess is that he would be very distressed.

Kind regards,


XIII

[GrannySue]

I don't know if I'm in peri or not, I'm 50 now and over the past few years things have started changing. I go from having my period a week early for a few months to having it late, two months ago it was 9 days late, which I never used to be late ever. Then skipped last month completely. One time it'll be real heavy, the next real light. Never the same two months in a row. And I never used to be like this. I was always very regular. Also when I got my glasses the eye doctor said I had a dry patch on my one eye. Since then twice now, I've scratched my cornea in my sleep. I have no clue how, but it's happened twice now. Starts out feeling like something is in my eye then starts to hurt really bad, turns all red and waters like I'm crying. Both times I went in and they checked me out and said it was scratched, gave me anti-biotic eye drops to use. Never in my life have I had a dry patch or a scratched cornea but now I've had it twice in the past few months. Another odd thing besides night sweats and hot flashes which drive my husband nuts, "I'm hot, I'm cold, I'm hot." is I suddenly cannot stand hamburgers. I've loved them all of my life. And they look good and smell good and one bite makes me want to throw up. I can eat meatloaf, meatballs, even hamburger helper, but can not stomach hamburgers. Doesn't matter if they're made in a pan on the stove or on the grill. Doesn't matter how I season them, one bite and YUCK! Also having a lot of trouble falling asleep at night. I blamed it on working at home, I work on the computer for most of the day and night, and thought my mind was just too wound up to let me drift off. But even on nights when I stop early I can't fall asleep. Thing is I've been doing this job at home for over 8 years now, very long days 7 days a week. Some days from the time I get up til I go to bed again, and I've never had this much trouble falling asleep until the past year. So is this peri or am I just going crazy? I know I'm driving my husband crazy with all of this stuff. LOL.

[severina55]

GRANNY SUE - I have all those symptoms you describe lol!!
I am recently diagnosed with peri, after being ill for ages, and Im having trouble
coping as well.
Since finding this brilliant site tho, things for me are better because I have girls
here who have been and are going through exact same things and just toknow
that our symptoms are "normal" for what we are going through, it really helps,
well- me anyway!!
Have your doctor,however useless he may be lol, do your hormone/thyroid
tests to check what your levels are, for a better picture of whats going on.
hope you find out soon,
take care.

[GrannySue]

I thought those tests didn't work until you haven't had a period in 12 months? or weren't accurate until then?

GRANNY SUE - I have all those symptoms you describe lol!!
I am recently diagnosed with peri, after being ill for ages, and Im having trouble
coping as well.
Since finding this brilliant site tho, things for me are better because I have girls
here who have been and are going through exact same things and just toknow
that our symptoms are "normal" for what we are going through, it really helps,
well- me anyway!!
Have your doctor,however useless he may be lol, do your hormone/thyroid
tests to check what your levels are, for a better picture of whats going on.
hope you find out soon,
take care.

[IRISHLADY]

I don't know if I'm in peri or not, I'm 50 now and over the past few years things have started changing. I go from having my period a week early for a few months to having it late, two months ago it was 9 days late, which I never used to be late ever. Then skipped last month completely. One time it'll be real heavy, the next real light. Never the same two months in a row. And I never used to be like this. I was always very regular. Also when I got my glasses the eye doctor said I had a dry patch on my one eye. Since then twice now, I've scratched my cornea in my sleep. I have no clue how, but it's happened twice now. Starts out feeling like something is in my eye then starts to hurt really bad, turns all red and waters like I'm crying. Both times I went in and they checked me out and said it was scratched, gave me anti-biotic eye drops to use. Never in my life have I had a dry patch or a scratched cornea but now I've had it twice in the past few months. Another odd thing besides night sweats and hot flashes which drive my husband nuts, "I'm hot, I'm cold, I'm hot." is I suddenly cannot stand hamburgers. I've loved them all of my life. And they look good and smell good and one bite makes me want to throw up. I can eat meatloaf, meatballs, even hamburger helper, but can not stomach hamburgers. Doesn't matter if they're made in a pan on the stove or on the grill. Doesn't matter how I season them, one bite and YUCK! Also having a lot of trouble falling asleep at night. I blamed it on working at home, I work on the computer for most of the day and night, and thought my mind was just too wound up to let me drift off. But even on nights when I stop early I can't fall asleep. Thing is I've been doing this job at home for over 8 years now, very long days 7 days a week. Some days from the time I get up til I go to bed again, and I've never had this much trouble falling asleep until the past year. So is this peri or am I just going crazy? I know I'm driving my husband crazy with all of this stuff. LOL.

I am 47 and i am going through all the symptoms i hardly see a period now i spot once every 3/4
mths since last october i have hardly crossed the door ,my symptoms witch i didnt understand untill
i found this forum i just didnt know what was going on with me i felt so alone confused that i was just exsisting if you know what i mean,i eventully went to my dr's last week he told me it was chronic depression, go home put some makeup on an become an actress go out an smile.........WHAT i thought are you listening to me?????he took some blood tests but not FSH or hormone/thyroid
so i have to go back this thursday and after reading so much on this forum i am now tooled with information and questions for my dr, i have been givin so much insight now about symptoms of menopause i also dont know if it PERI or what,so i shall know what,where,who,why etc etc etc to put to the doctor.
this is such a horrible time for us ladies do we not not suffer enough

[GrannySue]

I am 47 and i am going through all the symptoms i hardly see a period now i spot once every 3/4
mths since last october i have hardly crossed the door ,my symptoms witch i didnt understand untill
i found this forum i just didnt know what was going on with me i felt so alone confused that i was just exsisting if you know what i mean,i eventully went to my dr's last week he told me it was chronic depression, go home put some makeup on an become an actress go out an smile.........WHAT i thought are you listening to me?????he took some blood tests but not FSH or hormone/thyroid
so i have to go back this thursday and after reading so much on this forum i am now tooled with information and questions for my dr, i have been givin so much insight now about symptoms of menopause i also dont know if it PERI or what,so i shall know what,where,who,why etc etc etc to put to the doctor.
this is such a horrible time for us ladies do we not not suffer enough

I think if my doctor said that to me I'd be looking for a new doctor. Anyway, for those of you with dry eyes, what type of eye drops are you using? The eye doctor at LensCrafters when I got my glasses gave me a sample to use but it made my eyes hurt. So I read some reviews online and bought a few other over the counter moisturizing drops but they seem to make the one eye hurt too. I stopped using them, then had the scratched cornea twice, so this week I started using the one that said it was #1 doctor recommended to see if it would help now that the scratch is healed and I'm done with the prescription anti-biotic drops. But tonight after working on the computer all day that eye is hurting a little again. I'm not sure if the over the counter ones help or make it worse. I need to go see my regular doctor, as it's been a while so I'll ask her when I do go. But for now I was just curious what others are using.

[Shawna7]

I'm definately more sensitive to light, especially outside. Need my sunglasses most of the time. I also get floaters/hazy vision.

[GrannySue]

I'm definately more sensitive to light, especially outside. Need my sunglasses most of the time. I also get floaters/hazy vision.

I get those floaters too. Have off and on for years but I've noticed lately it's getting more frequent.

[JayJay55]

Thank you all for helping me feel not so alone and crazy. I have to be so careful now wearing my contacts, if I have them in for any longer than
9 or 10 hours I get horrible headaches and dry eyes. The floaters - well its just nice to know I am not alone and realize there is a reason they
have increased.

Joanne

[Shawna7]

I've had changes in my vision as well. I've had the "floaters" and "haze" everyone's mentioned too. Had a complete eye exam done about a year ago and everything was fine.

[stellamarisspwel...]

Changes in blood sugar may also impact vision. The floaters are very common. Peri is also a time when we are dealing with hormone fluctuations in which insulin is another one of those hormones. Take notice if they occur after you may have something that triggers an insulin response such as sugary foods.

You may notice a relationship.

Good luck
Leslie

[didgens]

Has anyone else had issues with their eyesight since starting peri?I have a lot more floaters,my eyes get achey and sometimes I feel like my eyesight is hazy,especially when the heat is on.I never had these problems before.The floaters drive me nuts,and since it is winter the dry air makes it worse.Anyone else?

\


YES !!

[derba627]

Thank you all for helping me feel not so alone and crazy. I have to be so careful now wearing my contacts, if I have them in for any longer than
9 or 10 hours I get horrible headaches and dry eyes. The floaters - well its just nice to know I am not alone and realize there is a reason they
have increased.

Joanne

I have was having exactly the same problem with my contacts, at about the same time I noticed that I needed reading glasses ~ over my contacts. Next I noticed that when I was on the computer for too long I was getting pains in my eyes and terrible headaches. About a year and a half ago I gave up and bought glasses. Progressive lenses as they are called now. Tri - focals in the olden days.
Isn't peri wonderful?