Blurred vision post-treatment?

[Rockedbyrequiem]

Ok, so as many of you know, I just finished treatment about a month ago. Well, within the last week or so, my vision has gotten significantly blurry. Now, I know the variety of eye problems this stuff can cause, and it was a concern of mine from day one. However, my vision was fine the entire time I was on treatment. Now all of a sudden, that rapidly changes. Is it possible that this could be some kind of withdrawal symptom? Since I'm now at a time when it's really starting to leave my body? I did get a weird burning-type ache in my legs for a few days about two weeks after my last dose, and the whole withdrawal thing came to my mind at that point as well, since I hadn't experienced that prior either. Is it even possible that it's related to the interferon if it has only now become an issue, weeks after my last dose? You guys have been such a huge help to me, and I thank you in advance.

[GoofyDad]

I had lots of floaters after treatment. I wasn't worried though - once I figured out it was all the fiber I'd added to my diet, I realized this was a good thing. But those dang low-flow toilets don't work for squat.

[Trish77]

Go see an opthalmologist to make sure your eyes are okay, however if it ends up being that your eyesight is deteriorating somewhat if you're not done treatment yet and not six months post treatment, don't bother getting new glasses or doing anything too drastic.  My doc had me wait until six months post treatment so that any ill effects would be stationary at that time - went and got new glasses and yes, needed a stronger prescription.  Not seriously stronger but definitely needed a change.  I figure partly natural progression and partly interferon.

[troubleshooter1]

Be glad and thankful that you don't have eye floaters like I do after tx. I have never had nothing like this in my eye site until I came off of my treatment. So I have both of them. Blurred vision and eye floaters. I feel that before I went on this treatment that something like this would happen to my eyes and so it did. I had to pray for God to help me. It was very bad. Please keep the sun light out of your eyes what ever you do. Take care, bye!

[DragonSlayer45]

I had some eye issues when treating. Early on in treatment I told my doctor that I had "eye ball" pain as it was the only accurate way to describe it. They immediately sent me to a the Ophthalmologist to have my eyes checked as Interferon can cause some serious eye problems namely cotton wool spots and retinal hemorrhages. My eyes checked out fine. I experienced it again late in treatment.

I did notice during treatment and after that my vision has gotten worse. I had  20/15 vision my whole life. My eyes were beginning to slowly change with age (48), as I noticed my arms were becoming too short when reading the menu at restaurants LOL. Since beginning treatment and post my eyes have gotten progressively worse. I can not read anything without glasses anymore or perform any type of "small delicate" type things at work anymore with out my dollar store glasses. I do find it a bit disturbing. I can not say it is from treatment but it does seem very coincidental that so many of us notice similar effects.

[Rockedbyrequiem]

Oh and also...It is clearly 90% my right eye, or quite possibly my right eye only. I can also read books and such no problem. Unchanged practically. It's the computer screen, clock, stuff like that. I dont know if that makes a difference...

[Rockedbyrequiem]

Well, thank you for the responses. The whole diabetes thing scares me to be honest. I'm not overweight or anything, haven't had any other symptoms to indicate diabetes, and ALSO, this was a concern of mine about half way through treatment, especially since I was on a medication that is notorious for causing diabetes...So I had bloodwork and everything was perfect. Of course, that was a good 6 months ago. If my glucose levels and all that were perfect 5 months into treatment, would it be possible for it to change that drastically like that? I'm hoping this is just general slight vision deterioration from the interferon. I did make an appointment with an opthamologist though.

[becksta29]

you are correct copyman.... my ex boyfreind never had bad vision or diabetes till tx and he is now insulin dependant by injection,and his eyes have never come good but that was caused from the dehydration from tx and diabetes and that man drank like a fish(non alcoholic of course)he swears that it was the tx that brought his diabetes on,but we just know...i mean he might have been going to get diabetes type 1 eventually anyway and the tx just sped it up.
I am on wk 24 of tx and iv been on a lower dose of interferon than most and even my eyes aint the best,but there still ok enough not to worry,but i am always thirsty from the tx so id put it down to dehydration.So please IMO every1 drink heaps of water etc  whilst on tx.
good luck with your eyes.

[copyman]

Diabetes can cause blurred vision. i have read cases of tx bringing on diabetes.  i'm going to mention it to the study nurse at my post 6 month visit.

[meakea]

You could have dry eye syndrome.  I do and it's gotten worse now that I'm 10 weeks post treatment.  Sometimes dry eye can actually cause teary eyes and both teary eyes and dry eyes can cause some blurriness.  Get it checked to be sure.

[GSDgirl]

I needed new glasses after TX.  The eye doc told me that with my type of eyesight it is going to deterioate even more.  My eyes were always perfect until 12 or so years ago & my glasses have gotten stronger and stronger.  He explained that when we are younger our muscles are stronger to hold focus better and as we age the muscles weaken, hence stronger glasses.

[copyman]

I also have blurry vision post TX. I'm 5 months post. Mostly reading and close up. I did have minor problems with reading and wore reading glasses before tx.  TX has definately made my eyesight worse.

[nygirl7]

Call the doctor right away and make an appt.
Eyesite is something you can't mess around with.  Seriously, it could be anything from an infection to just about anything it doesn't  have to be the interferon.

Better safe than sorry.

[epiphiny]

Hi!  I also had blurry visions problems post tx but not during and I would definately say my vision has deteriorated since finishing up.  However, I am now about 26 weeks post EOT and I have started to notice my vision is improving slightly.  I am really hoping that this will continue. I definately think there are 'withdrawals' from these drugs.  It may in fact be caused by our own immune systems coming back online as against the drugs leaving our systems.

The one thing I can tell you is the further I get from EOT the better I feel!

All the best to you

Epi :)

[Marcia2202]

I would say that everything and anything is possible with these crazy drugs. I also had the burning and pain in my legs for a while... only after treatment.

I would definitely check with the doctor about the eye problem though. It could be something totally irrelevant to post interferon problems.

Hope you find out what it is, or better, that it goes away!