Newtonium Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 Hey everybody, So I've been on Squirreloquel for about 4 years and it is the only thing that has succeeded in smacking my mania down. I tried basically everything else and it didn't work, so Seroquel has been a total godsend. But it definitely has affected my vision. I only needed reading glasses when I first went on it, and now I wear bifocals and have already had my prescription jacked up twice. That in itself doesn't especially bother me, but now I notice I need a lot more light than I used to, and I can't see fine detail without a magnifying glass or loupe. Granted, I'm 46, but the onset of this vision stuff has been awfully quick, and most people my age that I know don't need to use a loupe to thread a needle. I've heard cataracts are a possible side effect, and I'm starting to think I might be getting them. I have an eye doctor appointment in January, but he doesn't know I'm BP and I'm really not wild about telling him. I'm scared he'll say I should change my meds. I have a psych appointment in December, and there's no way I'm mentioning it to him, because there's no way I can go off Seroquel without completely wigging out. If it's just cataracts, OK, I can deal with having the surgery. What really scares me is that it might be some other type of blindness. I'm probably making a mountain out of a molehill, but this is frightening. Sorry for rambling, anyway, has anybody else had vision problems like this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recoverymouse Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 Cataracts can be detected in a standard eye exam, have you had any since starting? If you are concerned, maybe it would be a good idea to schedule one. I had a quick look at seroquel.com and, at least for the XR version, they recommend an eye exam every 6 months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sorrel Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 You don't have to tell you eye doctor anything. Just get the exam, and he will say something if he sees you are developing cataracts. No disclosure required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olga Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 Someone your age should be getting regular eye exams regardless of the meds you're on. Middle-aged people almost all have problems with reading, but it is also the age for onset of Glaucoma and other age-related eye conditions. I would see a highly-recommended optometrist or (preferably) an ophthalmologist. I personally feel that you should tell your ophthalmologist about all of the meds you are taking. There are lots of interactions and other situations, and the doc can't treat you properly if he's in the dark. If you don't have confidence in the ophthalmologist you are presently seeing, find another one. olga Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liveoak Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 How is your blood sugar? It affects vision a lot, and Seroquel can cause diabetes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirMarshall Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 Checking the PI sheet, Seroquel is NOT noted for any reports of cataracts. The symptoms of cataracts typically are increased haziness in the field of vision with attendant loss of detail, and difficulty with flaring or halos from strong point light sources. You report difficulty seeing small things and difficulty seeing in lowered light levels. Those are common complaints with "presbyopia" or distant vision related to increasing age. The cause is the loss of flexibility of the eyeball causing the eye muscles to be unable to adjust. The solution is BIFOCALS. Between the ages of 45-50 nearly all people require bifocal lenses in order to read or do close work. Get thee to you optometrist. "And tell him about all your psych meds!!!!" Best, a.m. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
withing Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 I agree with AM, you should tell your eye doctor about your meds - they're like any other doctor and really need to know anything that will affect your vision. Since Seroquel is known to cause glaucoma, then it's important that your eye doctor be aware that you're taking it. Also, if you're developing cataracts (or any other eye problems) it may or may not be related to the meds - it's important to realize that not everything is a side effect. I myself have been on Seroquel and Topamax for over five years, and am going to an eye doctor soon because I have a lot of difficulties with my vision that is a relatively new thing, including symptoms of cataracts... and I'm 43, so I pretty much think it's an age thing - for me at least. I hope you get things straightened out soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newtonium Posted September 25, 2009 Author Share Posted September 25, 2009 Well, I made an appointment for next Thursday. I was due for my yearly exam in January, but when I explained the problem they were able to work me in for the opthalmologist to check things out. I just think the suddenness of this thing is odd. I guess I'll find out when I'm there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recoverymouse Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 that's great news. best wishes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest daytongirl Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 Well, I made an appointment for next Thursday. I was due for my yearly exam in January, but when I explained the problem they were able to work me in for the opthalmologist to check things out. I just think the suddenness of this thing is odd. I guess I'll find out when I'm there! Just wanted to mention that Seroquel can and does cause cataracts. Had an eye checkup 4 years ago, no problems. Went on a LOW DOSE of Seroquel for 2 years. Next checkup, two years later - major cataracts. Only after I reported this to my psychopharmacologist did he mention that Seroquel can cause cataracts. He switched me to Invega. I am vigilant about checking for drug side effects, but I was not aware of this one. I agree with the previous post that said there should be some sort of suit. I've had complications following my cataract surgery on the right eye, which makes me hesitant to have surgery on my left eye. By the way, my sister, who is 4 years older than I, has no sign of cataracts. My parents were in their eighties when they needed surgery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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