lithium and eyesight - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

fallen_angel · 08-29-2006, 02:37 AM

hi all
just wondered if anyone has experienced problems with eyesight since being on lithium? i had my eyes tested about 4 months ago before starting lithium and was told i didnt need glasses. Since then ive experienced some weird things with my eyes especially recently. Bright lights make them go particularly funny and i cant see much atall after the light has got near my eyes. Night driving is awful. I can see strange things within them- its hard to explain. can this be a side effect of lithium, and has anyone else experienced anything similar?

twoeyez · 08-29-2006, 12:44 PM

fallen :

You are decribing Photophobia, or light sensitivity, is an intolerance of light. Sunlight, fluorescent light, incandescent light — all can be bothersome. Sometimes light-sensitive people are bothered only by bright light. In extreme cases, any light can be irritating.

Lithium's side effects with the eyes may cause only mild focusing problems and alingment problems resultiing in intermittent double vision. The photophobia you are experiencing may result from a comination of other meds you may be taking,but not from Lithium alone. You may want to check the visual side effects of all your meds.

Eyes

fallen_angel · 08-29-2006, 01:14 PM

Thank you to you both for your input.
Eyes- im not taking any other meds only lithium. Can photophobia cause problems with actual vision-like when im night driving i can only see things when im actually right on top of them? i dont have any problems with my eyesight other than this and was told i didnt need glasses. I occasionally experience slight blurring but was told this was due to a meibomian cyst i had which was interefering with a tear duct. im having a small op to remove it soon

twoeyez · 08-29-2006, 02:18 PM

Photophobia can be connected to the symptoms of Night blindness. It is not a diagnosis, but rather a symptom of an underlying disorder. Probably the most common cause of night blindness is uncorrected myopia (nearsightedness). This occurs because the individual with myopia will commonly become even more nearsighted as the pupil dilates at night.

I don't think that Lithium is involved. Even if your last eye exam showed your eyesight as "normal", a small degree of myopia may have occued since than and is causing part of your problem seeing at night, driving. Have your eye dr. check your eyesight again.

Eyes

fallen_angel · 08-29-2006, 03:43 PM

Thanks Eyes, i will do. Thank you for all your help