Questions About Vision Health

1. What is the difference between wet and dry macular degeneration?

   Question - The difference between wet and dry macular degeneratiom (AMD) is that in wet AMD blood vessels develop under the macular where they should not be and in dry AMD there are no such vessels. In wet AMD those vessels leak, bleed and damage the macula whereas, which can happen suddenly, whereas in dry AMD...
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2. Does Abilify cause blurred vision?

   Question - One possible side effect of Abilify is blurred vision, amoung tiredness and sleeplessness as well.
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3. Is blurred vision after cataract surgery normal?

   Question - Blurred vision for a while after cataract surgery is very normal. The immediate blurred vision after surgery should go away, and any later blurred vision can be easily took care of. Talk to your eye doctor about any vision concerns you have.
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4. What does vision look like through cataracts?

   Question - iv heard people say it looks like your looking through a plastic bag, just really cloudy, iv been having eye problems recently from years of not taking care of my diabeties and had to have retina surgery on my left eye in june, now im starting to have problems with really bad cloudyness in that eye,...
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5. Does glaucoma cause double vision?

   Question - Glaucoma is an eye disease that can lead to irreversible blindness. Glaucoma has many symptoms which include: red eye, seeing halos around lights, loss of field vision, nausea and sudden decreased vision. Double vision is not listed as a symptom of glaucoma and anyone experiencing double vision should seek medical advice for the cause of their double vision...
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6. Does Plavix cause macular degeneration?

   Question - As of yet there is no official link between Plavix (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000040)and the onset of macular degeneration. There have been some incidents where patients taking Plavix are concerned it may be making their pre existing macular degeneration become worse...
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7. Can vision come back after chemo treatment?

   Question - I'm sorry I don't have an answer but my father has lost his sight rapidly whilst undergoing chemo and I just wanted to talk to other people who were experiencing the same problem. I've read one article by Ernest Rosenbaum (oncologist) that indicates sight can return.
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8. How can I persuade my dad to be honest with others about his vision problem?

   Question - There are three reasons why some seniors don't want others to know they have vision loss. The first is a tremendous fear of blindness, coupled with the belief that acknowledging any vision loss is the first step on the way to blindness. They also often think that others will assume they're going blind if they say they're having vision problems...
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9. Are blurred vision and headaches common with Alzheimer's?

   Question - Blurred vision and headaches are not common symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. It is important to have vision of your mother-in-law examined by an ophtalmologist to eliminate the possibility that her blurred vision is due to conditions such as glaucoma or cataract. Vision problem may cause headaches, although headaches could be also due to many other condition...
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10. Would Xanax or macular degeneration cause my mother to see things that aren't there?

    Question - Your question is a good one. First of all, I would say that Xanax is not a drug that I would choose to use in an elder who had anger and irritability. I would instead choose an antidepressant, such as one of the SSRI's (Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro). These are better tolerated in elders, and have less chance of side effects...
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11. Will herbs help recover vision lost from glaucoma?

    Question - Neither "vision herbs", "Senior Eye Vision" nor any other herbs, vitamins or prescription medications will restore vision lost from glaucoma. Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, which we do not know how to regenerate. The vitamins marketed for eyes are for macular degeneration; they do not restore lost...
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12. Does Medicare Cover Vision Care?

    Question - Coverage of vision care by Medicare Part B is limited to treatment of medical conditions, and only treatment provided by a medical doctor. It does not normally include vision examinations, eyeglasses, or contact lenses.
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13. How can I stay active with vision loss?

    Question - The vision we use to avoid bumping into objects is our peripheral vision -- what we see at the edges of our vision. If your mother has lost part or all of her peripheral vision, she'll benefit from rehabilitation training to become aware of the missing area of vision...
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14. What can I do for my blurry vision?

    Question - If your blurry vision is from dry eyes, which it sounds like it may be as you were given drops, I would recommend (1)be sure you blink enough, as if you are absorbed in a TV program you may not blink as frequently as you should and eyes that don't blink frequently become dry,(2) be sure you do not have...
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15. Is a common side effect of chemotherapy blurred vision?

    Question - Blurred vision is not among the more common side effects of chemotherapy. However, according to the American Cancer Society's literature on side effects, there are certain chemotherapy drugs that might cause this problem. Some chemotherapy drugs can damage the cranial nerves, which in turn can cause...
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16. What's an Amsler grid?

    Question - The Amsler grid is an early warning system for a change in your parent's macular degeneration. Macular degeneration affects the retina of the eye, which is sensitive to horizontal and vertical lines. If you look at the grid that your parent has posted on the refrigerator, you'll see that it has evenly...
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17. Should Dad learn braille?

    Question - First, I wouldn't assume your father can't read print if he hasn't already tried a CCTV (closed-circuit television), which magnifies much more than the strongest magnifier and provides a large area for viewing. Most people with age-related macular degeneration, for example, can at least read bills with a CCTV, and many can even read the newspaper...
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18. My generally healthy (but diabetic) mother was recently told to stop driving. She wants her car back, badly.

    Question - The vision standards for driving fitness are set at the state level and vary state by state. I'd recommend checking to see what her state's regulations are. Her vision impairment may clearly place her in the "unsafe and not legal to drive" category and that will make the discussion about whether she can drive or not moot...
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19. Can vision loss be a sign of dementia?

    Question - It could be that her vision worsens as her eyes tire as the day goes on, therefore what time she is tested will make a difference. Or it could be that she has cataracts, which do or do not affect the vision depending on how bright or how dim the light is. Or it could be the beginnings of a retinal tear, which if left untreated, will lead to blindness...
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20. Could this 'trouble" be related to his vision or could dementia be setting in?

    Question - Difficulty driving around a familiar area could be caused by vision loss or by dementia. In order to distinguish between the two it is important to know what type of difficulty your father is having. If he is losing his way in familiar areas or forgetting how to get home, that may suggest dementia...
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21. How can I help my dad, who is losing his vision from macular degeneration?

    Question - Macular degeneration is often very hard for people, as there’s currently no treatment for this problem. I would suggest calling your dad’s ophthalmologist to ask if he could be referred to a low vision center or program in your area. These centers will often do a visual assessment in the home, and and can help people with low vision obtain visual aids...
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22. How can I help my parent continue to enjoy books after her vision loss?

    Question - Many devices, from stand magnifiers to closed-circuit TV screen reading machines, enable even individuals with severe visual impairment to read, so a sudden switch from reading to exclusively listening isn't necessary for most people. The best way to identify appropriate devices is to have a low-vision...
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23. Can hallucinations be a sign of vision loss?

    Question - Approximately 30 percent of individuals with vision loss see visual hallucinations or "phantom images." This is called Charles Bonnet syndrome, named after the Swiss philosopher who first described it over 200 years ago. When it happens, the individual sees a recurring full-color, life-like image of...
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24. Should my parent, who has macular degeneration, take antioxidants to help stem vision loss?

    Question - Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals, which damage the macula (the part of the eye that's damaged in macular degeneration). It has been proven that a combination of antioxidants retards the progress of age-related macular degeneration for those who already have it, as your father does.
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25. What are some tips for relieving dry eyes?

    Question - The other things your wife might do to help alleviate dry eyes are take an omega-3 fatty acid (fish oil) capsule, put a hot wet compress over her closed eyes for 15 minutes four times a day, install a humidifier on your furnace and/or a portable humidifier in your most used room in the house and avoid either heat or air conditioning blowing on her face, e...
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26. Does high blood pressure cause blurred vision?

    Question - High blood pressure, or hypertension, does not directly result in blurred vision. Rather, high blood pressure left untreated overtime will cause damage to organs including the eyes and brain that may result in blurred vision. Because of the distinct lack of symptoms, high blood pressure is sometimes referred to as the "silent killer"...
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27. Does Medicare cover glasses to correct double vision?

    Question - Probably not. Generally, Medicare Part B pays for eyeglasses only following cataract surgery in which a new lens is implanted in the eye. If you have any other kind of eye problem, Medicare does not pay for glasses. If you are treated by an eye specialist physician -- as opposed...
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28. What could be causing Mom's vision problems?

    Question - My mother is having vision problems. Her symptoms include moving lines in the road, distorted vision, or she looks at someone's face and their face may be longer or shorter than it is. Lines are moving in the street and things sitting on a flat table are sitting on a hump to her. Parts of things may be gone...

29. Will eye strain damage my eyes?

    Question - Using your eyes will not damage them; "eye strain" will not damage them. To relieve the strain, however, be sure you are blinking enough, look away from the material every 20 min or so for a couple minutes and, depending on your age, explore the option of reading glasses...
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30. What causes eye floaters?

    Question - The cause of eye floaters is condensation of the transparent gel, called vitreous, that fills our eyeballs. As we age the vitreous condenses and makes little bits of solid material in the gel visible. Floaters are not dangerous and are not a sign of something more serious...
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31. Is her declining health due to Alzheimer's?

    Question - It’s doubtful that your mother’s complaints are caused by Alzheimer’s itself. However ailments can go undetected because a person with dementia has trouble conveying her aches, pains, and discomforts. Your mother needs relief to improve her life. I recommend that your mother has a thorough physical.sical...
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32. What could cause spots in my vision?

    Question - The most commmon cause for seeing spots is condensation of the gel that fills the inside of your eyeball. As the gel condenses, a normal development over time, the little fibres within it separate out and float in the gel. As light passes through your pupil at the front of your eye and through the gel...
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33. Do floaters lead to blindness?

    Question - There is no way to prevent floaters and they won't go away; however, most people become less aware of them as time goes on. They are just little condensations in the gel that fills the hollow inside of your eyeball. They do not cause vision loss and they certainly do not cause blindness...
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34. Can headaches and vision loss after a stroke be related?

    Question - Based on your description, it sounds like she likely had a stroke in either the right middle cerebral artery (inferior division) or the right posterior cerebral artery. These strokes often cause loss of vision in both eyes to the visual field opposite the side of the stroke (in other words, her left visual field in both eyes)...
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35. Is there a treatment for the brown spots in my eyes?

    Question - There is no treatment for the brown spots in your eyes and they are not associated with jaundice. If you notice them enlarging or changing color you should see your ophthalmologist.
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36. Is my mother considered blind?

    Question - with 20/80 visual acuity in one eye your mother is neither blind, nor "legally blind", regardless of the condition of the other eye. To be considered legally blind, best visual acuity in your best eye has to be 20/200. 20/80 means that your mother has to stand 20 feet from an object to see it that the person with full sight could see from 80 feet...
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37. How do I get my husband to try to recover from a stroke?

    Question - Sorry to hear about this. Although I don't expect that he would make much physical improvements from the point of view of standard stroke recovery this far out from the stroke, a few thoughts come to mind.
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38. What causes a white ring around the iris?

    Question - The white ring you see on top of your iris is most likely a deposit of cholesterol around the edge of your cornea, the clear dome that covers the iris. This cholesterol deposit is known officially as a pinguicula. If you are young, this could suggest high cholesterol; if you are a senior citizen, it...
    1 Expert Answer, 4 Community Answers

39. Is retinitis pigmentosa treatable?

    Question - Retinitis pigmentosa is a condition in which the retina, the inside lining of the eyeball which serves the same function as film in a camera, gradually deteriorates. It's now often treated with vitamin A. To see whether this therapy is appropriated for you, make an appointment with a retinal specialist...
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40. How can I help my kids understand their grandfather's vision loss?

    Question - Understanding vision loss requires understanding what type of visual impairment a person has. If your parent has age-related macular degeneration, for example, then he has central vision loss, which affects detailed vision. If he had peripheral loss, he would have detail vision but find it hard to get around...
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41. How can I help my parent get her questions answered at the eye doctor's?

    Question - I suggest that your parent make a list of all of her questions and concerns and give it to the doctor (or to the nurse, who will give it to the doctor with your mother's chart). Then all she has to do is ask him to look at the list and tell her the answers...
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42. My mom won't admit to having memory problems. How can I handle this?

    Question - Your mother illustrates the complexity of age-related conditions and risks. It's not just her forgetting, but it's also her vision affecting her phone use. I bet it frustrates her, you ,and her callers. But her phone is too important a connection for her to give up, especially if she lives alone...
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43. What are the best type of sunglasses for someone with impaired vision?

    Question - While protection from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays helps prevent cataracts, the best glasses for someone with macular degeneration are those that block not only UV light but also blue wavelengths, as it's the blue light, not UV, that's the culprit in macular degeneration.
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44. How can I help my parent accept her eye disease?

    Question - We tell our patients not to give up hope for a miracle but not to wait for it. You'll want to respect your parent's feelings, but at the same time you can encourage her to explore low-vision aids (like magnifiers and talking watches) and resources (like support groups and rehabilitation training)...
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45. What are the recommended magnified lighted mirrors to help with macular degeneration?

    Question - Choosing magnifying mirrors is a very individual matter. The mirrors come with different levels of magnification, some are lighted, some attach to another mirror via suction cups, some mount on a wall, and others sit on a flat surface.
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46. Can Alzheimer's symptoms lessen if brought back to a familiar setting?

    Question - My 74 year old Dad has Alzheimer's. He was being cared for in his apartment by my brother, me, a health aid and his girlfriend -- all on a rotating basis. Recently, we moved him to an assisted living dementia unit where he declined in one week to not being able to walk or feed himself very well...

47. What type of glasses can I purchase after cataract surgery and what is covered under Medicare Plan B?

    Question - Medicare Part B can pay for one pair of eyeglasses following your cataract surgery, if you had a new lens implanted in your eye. If you have two separate cataract operations, one on each eye, Medicare will cover new glasses after each surgery. Medicare Part B will pay for the lenses and the frames, but only for a basic, low-cost frame...
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48. How can I encourage my parent to want to learn about his eye disease?

    Question - Knowledge can be helpful in three ways: It can alleviate fear, it can enable your parent to reduce the risk of progression of a disease, and it can help him overcome the impact of the disease on his daily life. If the knowledge being transmitted doesn't do any of these things, it may not be helpful or well received...
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49. How can I encourage my father to use his left side that has no feeling after stroke?

    Question - The term for what you're describing is anosognosia, which means "without knowing." It's a profound lack of awareness of the side of the body affected by the stroke.Anosognosia is not to be confused with denial. Your father isn't denying that he has a problem; he's literally disconnected from his left arm and leg...
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50. Why is my elderly father having trouble driving at night?

    Question - Many older drivers self-regulate driving behavior to be safe, so they'll avoid dangerous roads, driving in bad weather, or driving at night. I don't think you should worry about your dad being too cautious. This is probably an instinctive and very healthy decision.Our eyes change with time...
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51. Can I charge the agency for MY time if the HHA doesn't show?

    Question - You write well. Your clarity magnifies several issues that you are dealing with. First, is the issure of the poor home health aide and the poor agency that does not stand behind their work by sending in a replacement when the aide is absent. Many home health aides work day and night and sleep whenever they can...
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52. Should I seek a second opinion about my stroke recovery and meningioma?

    Question - It is somewhat hard to know the answer here without knowing the location of the stroke and the meningioma. By age 55, it is not uncommon at all to have incidental old stroke and/or meningiomas seen on routine brain imaging. If they are not in the right location (usually an area known as the "posterior...
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53. Is vision loss associated with dementia?

    Question - Dementia does not cause vision loss, but it does impair the individual's ability to recognize people and objects. If her vision is actually decreased enough to be unable to see an object as large as a baby, then I would expect that she would have difficulty finding her plate to eat, for example, or finding...
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