Vision Changes On Florinef?

[s-pot]

Just wondering has anyone else experienced vision changes/problems on Fludro?

I have had sudden change two months ago....ALOT of black spots, two central that move constantly when my eyes move also peripheral blur/lines.

I know 'floaters' can be normal but this has not bin a gradual thing. I really don't think they are migraines either as I have never suffered from them before. I am getting intense pressure like headaches that have come on with these vision changes. I think they could be associated with the Florinef....I am a year on it now and I have started to notice a good few physical changes recently that I can only put down to the fludro.

AND have just read this evening that long term corticosteriod use/fludro can cause vision changes/cateracts/glaucoma.

Anyone else have any experience of this??

[Akgirl]

Oh wow totally!! I never put the two and two together. I have been wondering what in world is going on with my vision it's gotten pretty horrible I have pressure and floaters and static and sometimes orange balls that are over whatever I am trying to see! I have asked my doctor and they just kinda star at me blankly. I am now doing vestibular and ocular therapy to try to help the vision issues and my dizziness. But maybe it's just a side effect of fludro not even my pots!!

[thegron]

Hey,

Sorry you're having eye issues. I know that florinef can (rarely) cause increased intraocular pressure and other eye problems. But don't take my word for it, as I am not a health professional. Ask your doctor for a funduscopic examination and to check the pressure in your eyes.

Feel better.

[Akgirl]

Does a normal doc do this exam or do I go to a eye doctor?

[s-pot]

I do suspext it cud be the fludro in my case tbh. My dose was doubked a cple f months ago and I really didnt tolerate it well. Defo had the vision problems before I increased dose but they got alot worse whem I doubled.

Also I wud imagine (even if it is rare) that your chances of developing vision problems on fludro are much more increased if you are an asmathic taking regular corticosteroid inhalers too!

Wonder how many people are really suffering eye problems due to fludro!

Ive seen mention of it online several times...people with pots/addisons forums developing eye probs nd gettin no answers!

[Relax86]

I have vision problems without being on meds. I think pupil dilation is vagal nerve. I have floaters, sharp shooting pain in the corner of my eyes on occasion, blurry vision. Eye Dr said I lost 40% vision in my left eye during flare. And most of my symptoms were right sided (ear pain, feeling like my carotid on the right was on fire or tight, feeling my pulse in right side of neck)

[Akgirl]

Do you no if the vision probs go away when discontinuing the meds.

[s-pot]

I dont know AKgirl....im sscared to try comin off the fludro to see as im in the middle of a bad bad pots crash!

However I really dont think the fludro is helping me much anymore nd upping the dose seems to be causing me more problems!

Have an eye aptment with optomology doc next week mite be able to suss whata goin on!

[Akgirl]

Let me know what they say if you don't mind!! My vestibular therapist claimed she can fix almost all of these visual disturbances in about 3 months!! I am currently doing eye exersizes 3 times a day laying on my back. I go in once a week to to therapy.

[Rachel Cox]

You might need to get your intraocular eye pressure tested. I was on fludro and began to develop glaucoma from it. My doctor discontinued my use of it straight away. Glaucoma can make you blind so this is not a side effect to just muck around with. Have you had increasing headaches and blurriness too? Please get it tested. Any optometrist can check eye pressure and will tell you straight away if it is dangerously high. Then talk to your specialist who prescribed the fludro as soon as you have your pressure results. Take care s-pot!

Edited August 18, 2013 by corina
medical advice

[Akgirl]

Thanks s-pot!! I will go see my eye doc! My headaches are super bad!! I am taking topamax for it but I have to keep upping my dose higher and higher to try to compat the headache. I really appreciate the tip.

[DrDiana]

Hi S-pot, When I tried Florinef, my intracranial pressure went through the roof! Being a therapeutic optometrist, I was leaning toward that diagnosis, and Florinef confirmed it for me. High intracranial pressure can cause a host of ocular (and neurological) problems. Of course, hydrocortisone can also cause glaucoma and cataracts, if used long term. You can go off of the Florinef, see if it gets better, then go back on, if you want to self-experiment! (not something all of us should do or are comfortable doing!). Me? I live for that stuff! I stopped Florinef immediately and took a couple of Diamox to decrease my intracranial pressure (eye doctors keep it around the office for emergency closed-angle glaucoma). I responded positively within hours.

[s-pot]

Thanks everyone for responses

UpDaTe today...went to the opthamologist and she cudnt see anything!

Said the pressure was fine.

I am wondering firstly how would one kno if intracranial pressure is high?

And secondly the eye problems tend to peak at certain times during the day, possibly when the fludro peaks and also vision problems worsen when the pressure pain in my head worsens throughout the day.

Im wondering as my aptment was very early this morning cud eye pressure be fine at one point n then and worsen later?

I really dont believe it ia just begin floaters...i think the fludro is to blame n seems to be less efective recently and cauaing more problems..i have toyed with the idea of reducing n experimenting bit am terrified too of how bad cud pots get without meds now!! drs here in Ireland are pretty terrible when it comes to all things potsy!

[Akgirl]

I also went to ophthalmologist today. They said I don't have high pressure ether but he said my eyes are one tiny step up from completely dry, he said they are not making tears??? He gave day drops and night gel. Also I have a potential peripheral blind spot in my rt eye?? I have to go in for more testing for that. My headache was so so so BAD from seeing him today!! He said my floaters and visual changes are not from my retina and my eye pressure was good but thought I was having migraines and needed to get off the topimax and try something else? He also thought I was over medicated. I tried explaining about dyautonomia and pots but I don't think he really knew what it was. I think he just saw that I was 31 and on a giant list of old people medication and just drew his own conclusions!! S-pot are you on a beta blocker? I am on atenolol and he said that's good as far as eye pressed is concerned. I think dr. Diana could explain that better than I could something to do with beta blocker lowering presher?? I am just so sick of weird floaty things and headaches and seeing my pulse in my eyes ect. But I am hoping that my vestibular therapy will help. I'll let you no if there's any benefit!!!