Hi,
I have had a serious depletion in eyesight over the past 4 months, with new glasses fitted last week after reaching a level to dangerous to drive.
I'm in my 3rd year of Revlimid, no SCT yet, prednisolone daily, and aspirin, allopurinol, and a few others thrown in.
The optometrist mentioned diabetes as a side issue, saying that the deterioration can be a sign of diabetes. Does that sound true?
Has anyone else experienced poorer eyesight after years of multiple myeloma medication?
Is there a link to diabetes, when it is all said and done?
Cheers
Alex
Forums
Re: Multiple myeloma and eyesight
Our daughter has experienced high blood sugar and even has had to take insulin during high doses of the steroid dex. Prednisone is also a steroid. I have been diabetic since I was 14, so she is probably genetically predisposed to diabetes. Right now she is on 10 mg of dex twice a week and does not seem to be having a problem, but 20 mg or 40 mg caused rises in blood sugar.
Re: Multiple myeloma and eyesight
You need to see an ophthalmologist (MD), not an optometrist. There are many things that could be causing such a decrease in visual acuity. Some could be age related (macular degeneration). Your post doesn't mention your age.
Steroid use can cause changes in the eyesight also. Steroid use can cause fluctuating blood sugars, which causes fluctuations in visual acuity. Steroid use can cause cataracts. Steroid use can cause diabetes, which can damage the retinas in the eyes.
Again: make an appointment to have a dilated eye exam by an ophthalmologist. If you do not know one, your internist can refer you to one they are familiar with.
Steroid use can cause changes in the eyesight also. Steroid use can cause fluctuating blood sugars, which causes fluctuations in visual acuity. Steroid use can cause cataracts. Steroid use can cause diabetes, which can damage the retinas in the eyes.
Again: make an appointment to have a dilated eye exam by an ophthalmologist. If you do not know one, your internist can refer you to one they are familiar with.
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rumnting - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 4/9/11
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Multiple myeloma and eyesight
Alex,
I have been on two different treatments since around March of 2014. First it was Revlimid / dex; it was working very well, but due to an allergic reaction to the Revlimid, it was changed to Velcade / dex.
I recently went in for my annual eye exam. I had some issues with my old glasses being really scratched and just thought that was some of the issue with my sight, mostly up close.
With this recent visit, I was told that there was a cloudy area around the surface of my left eye. He thought that it could be from the use of dexamethasone.
I recently had a bone marrow biopsy before having a stem cell harvest, and I was told that I had reached a complete response. I took a month off from all drugs after the cell harvest and had my eyes reexamined. The cloudiness around the eye was greatly reduced.
I just started a lower dose maintenance treatment of Velcade / dex. The dex was lowered from 40 mg to 20 mg once per week.
My eye doctor thinks that the steroid dexamethasone in my case could be the issue. I also have new glasses now and all seems ok but my eye exams will be every 6 months now. Rumnting has some good info also.
Hope this helps,
Castaway
I have been on two different treatments since around March of 2014. First it was Revlimid / dex; it was working very well, but due to an allergic reaction to the Revlimid, it was changed to Velcade / dex.
I recently went in for my annual eye exam. I had some issues with my old glasses being really scratched and just thought that was some of the issue with my sight, mostly up close.
With this recent visit, I was told that there was a cloudy area around the surface of my left eye. He thought that it could be from the use of dexamethasone.
I recently had a bone marrow biopsy before having a stem cell harvest, and I was told that I had reached a complete response. I took a month off from all drugs after the cell harvest and had my eyes reexamined. The cloudiness around the eye was greatly reduced.
I just started a lower dose maintenance treatment of Velcade / dex. The dex was lowered from 40 mg to 20 mg once per week.
My eye doctor thinks that the steroid dexamethasone in my case could be the issue. I also have new glasses now and all seems ok but my eye exams will be every 6 months now. Rumnting has some good info also.
Hope this helps,
Castaway
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Castaway - Name: George
- Who do you know with myeloma?: just myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1/24/14
- Age at diagnosis: 62
Re: Multiple myeloma and eyesight
I hope there are some diabetes experts here who can correct me if I'm wrong about this. But I thought that diabetes-related side effects such as eye damage or problems with circulation usually develop after many years of having the disease -- like decades, not just a couple of years.
I know that this probably depends on a lot of factors, particular how well the diabetes is controlled. So if someone has diabetes for a short time, but has a very difficult time controlling it, that the side effects could occur sooner rather than later.
However, my guess would be that any eyesight-related side effects from multiple myeloma and myeloma treatments would not be indirectly through diabetes caused by steroid treatment. Instead, I would expect them to be due to cataracts or glaucoma caused by steroid treatment.
Another possibility is that the immunoglobulins created by the myeloma could damage the retina or optic nerve, similar to how those immunoglobulins can sometimes cause neuropathy in some patients, even before any neuropathy occurs from treatment.
I hope you are able to track down the source of your eye problems and get them corrected.
I know that this probably depends on a lot of factors, particular how well the diabetes is controlled. So if someone has diabetes for a short time, but has a very difficult time controlling it, that the side effects could occur sooner rather than later.
However, my guess would be that any eyesight-related side effects from multiple myeloma and myeloma treatments would not be indirectly through diabetes caused by steroid treatment. Instead, I would expect them to be due to cataracts or glaucoma caused by steroid treatment.
Another possibility is that the immunoglobulins created by the myeloma could damage the retina or optic nerve, similar to how those immunoglobulins can sometimes cause neuropathy in some patients, even before any neuropathy occurs from treatment.
I hope you are able to track down the source of your eye problems and get them corrected.
Re: Multiple myeloma and eyesight
I also agree with the observations of rumnting. Cataracts are a primary consideration, especially for blurred vision. They can be corrected rather easily with an outpatient surgical procedure.
It is also important to evaluate for non-myeloma / treatment-related changes in vision as well. This is best done by an ophthalmologist. Be sure to mention the prednisolone daily, though.
It is also important to evaluate for non-myeloma / treatment-related changes in vision as well. This is best done by an ophthalmologist. Be sure to mention the prednisolone daily, though.
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Dr. Jason Valent - Name: Jason Valent, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: Multiple myeloma and eyesight
I noticed that, while on Revlimid, I had more eye troubles and needed new glasses. Now that I have been off all maintenance medications and am only taking acyclovir and Xarelto (rivaroxaban), my eyes are changing again. Now I often get halo shimmers if I go from close up to distance, or from inside to out. They only last a few seconds.
I just started Arimidex (anastrozole) a month ago, so could this be the cause? I am due to see eye doctor soon, so will have to ask him.
I just started Arimidex (anastrozole) a month ago, so could this be the cause? I am due to see eye doctor soon, so will have to ask him.
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Mary Degenkolb - Name: Mary Degenkolb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Multiple myeloma and eyesight
Hi Alex,
My husband developed cataracts in both eyes due to the dex he took for his multiple myeloma. His cataracts developed rather quickly when they started – cloudy vision was his main symptom. He had cataract surgery in both eyes and has terrific eyesight now!
Best wishes,
Chris M.
My husband developed cataracts in both eyes due to the dex he took for his multiple myeloma. His cataracts developed rather quickly when they started – cloudy vision was his main symptom. He had cataract surgery in both eyes and has terrific eyesight now!
Best wishes,
Chris M.
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Chris M.
Re: Multiple myeloma and eyesight
The same thing happened to me (cataracts).
I began with the Velcade / dex / Cytoxan pre-transplant regimen. I had seen an optometrist for new glasses at about the time I was first sent for blood tests, and he told me that I was developing cataracts, it was normal for someone like me who had lived most of my life in the bright desert. He also told me that the cataracts HE saw didn't affect my vision, and that I might need to consider dealing with them in ten or fifteen years.
I started chemo in May ... and required cataract surgery that August. Talk about blazing up on someone and bashing her over the head! I have to tell you, though, that I love it. I've had to wear glasses since I was eight years old and never did get my vision better than 20/40 ...
Now it's a perfect 20/20. I can count the feathers on a flying eagle.
Just don't ask me to see anything closer than three feet.
Nevermind ... reading glasses are REALLY cheap (as in three pair for seven bucks at WalMart?). I can get them to match every mood and every need, and my night vision is back!
(shrug) can't ask for better than that, can I?
I began with the Velcade / dex / Cytoxan pre-transplant regimen. I had seen an optometrist for new glasses at about the time I was first sent for blood tests, and he told me that I was developing cataracts, it was normal for someone like me who had lived most of my life in the bright desert. He also told me that the cataracts HE saw didn't affect my vision, and that I might need to consider dealing with them in ten or fifteen years.
I started chemo in May ... and required cataract surgery that August. Talk about blazing up on someone and bashing her over the head! I have to tell you, though, that I love it. I've had to wear glasses since I was eight years old and never did get my vision better than 20/40 ...
Now it's a perfect 20/20. I can count the feathers on a flying eagle.
Just don't ask me to see anything closer than three feet.
Nevermind ... reading glasses are REALLY cheap (as in three pair for seven bucks at WalMart?). I can get them to match every mood and every need, and my night vision is back!(shrug) can't ask for better than that, can I?
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
Re: Multiple myeloma and eyesight
My eyesight has vision clarity has deteriorated some since my myeloma diagnosis too. I do not know if it is simply aging, the drugs or a little bit of both. I suspect is a little bit of both.
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Eric Hofacket - Name: Eric H
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01 April 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 44
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