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Parkinson’s Disease And Eye Problems

There Is A Wide Array Of Vision Problems People With Parkinsons May Experience

More Than Meets the Eye: Vision Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

Here are several common, and a few not-so-common, visual symptoms you may experience:

Blurry vision and difficulty with color vision. Blurry vision may be related to dopamine depletion in the back of the eye and within the visual connections through the brain. This may be partially corrected with dopaminergic medications, though medication effects are usually subtle regarding vision, so you may not notice them.

Visual processing difficulty. This refers to the orientation of lines and edges, as well as depth perception. This can take different forms, including:

  • Troubles with peripheral vision: distracted by objects and targets in your peripheral vision
  • Difficulties perceiving overlapping objects
  • Difficulty copying and recalling figures
  • Difficulties detecting whether motion is occurring and in which direction
  • Difficulties recognizing faces, facial expressions, and emotions

Dry Eye. Dry eyes are a consequence of decreased blinking and poor production of tears. Dry eye can be worsened by certain medications prescribed for Parkinsons. Dry eye improves with liberal use of artificial tears and good eye/eyelid hygiene. Of note, dry eye doesnt always feel dry! Sometimes it feels like watering, and other times it just feels like blurring or being out of focus.

How Is Psp Diagnosed

Currently there are no tests or brain imaging techniques to definitively diagnose PSP. An initial diagnosis is based on the persons medical history and a physical and neurological exam. Identifying early gait problems, problems moving the eyes, speech and swallowing abnormalities, as well as ruling out other similar disorders is important. Diagnostic imaging may show shrinkage at the top of the brain stem and look at brain activity in known areas of degeneration.

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy And Cortico

PSP and CBD are both four-repeat tau diseases exhibiting considerable similarities and overlap . Distinguishing PD from PSP can be especially difficult early in the disease. Atypical features of PSP include slowing of upward saccades, moderate slowing of downward saccades, the presence of a full range of voluntary vertical eye movements, a curved trajectory of oblique saccades, and absence of square-wave jerks . Hence, particularly useful in separating PSP from PD is the presence in the former of vertical supranuclear gaze palsy, fixation instability, lid retraction, blepharospasm, and apraxia of eyelid opening and closing . Downgaze palsy is probably the most useful diagnostic clinical symptom of PSP . Deficits in colour vision appear to be more important in PD and directly related to the dopamine system. However, in untreated early PD, no consistent deficits in colour vision were demonstrated making this alone an unreliable indicator of PD .

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What Can We Do

Armed with the above knowledge, is there anything we can do about it? I have been implementing various strategies to see if these help and I do strongly believe these are cumulatively benefitting me and reducing my symptoms over time.

The main thrust is to look after our eye health. In this regard, many of the strategies I discussed for blood-brain-barrier health follow over directly: keeping our bodies very well hydrated avoiding inflammation and stress as best we can making sure our nutritional support is maximized. In terms of nutrition specifically for the eyes, Dr Axe recommends two special anti-oxidants, Lutein and Zeaxanthin, as well as Zinc and Omega 3 supplementation too. I have been taking all of these for several weeks and do feel my eyes are less sore and dry now. The A, C, E vitamins are also recommended by Dr Axe.

Like most of the rest of our body parts, exercising the eyes and visual brain functions will also be most important to maintaining their health, see:

Ask The Md: Vision And Parkinsons Disease

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This webpage explains the visual problems that are due to Parkinsons disease, the medications used to treat it, or to unrelated conditions of the eye or eyelid. If you have visual problems, dont assume it is due to either aging or Parkinsons. Address it with your doctor to maintain your ability to read, drive, and walk steadily to reduce your risk of falling.

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How Does Parkinsons Cause Vision Issues

Parkinsons is characterized by a loss of dopamine producing cells in the substantia nigra portion of the brain. The reduction of dopamine can affect the visual cortex. So Parkinsons can impair mobility of the eyes just like the limbs. There are several kinds of visual disturbances that may be experienced by people with Parkinsons. Many who experience changes in vision or eye mechanics seek out a consultation from a neuro-opthalmologist, someone who specializes in visual problems associated with neurological disease.2

Eye Exercises And Parkinson’s Disease

In this regards, I also recommend the work of Dr Eric Cobb of Zhealth Education. Dr Cobb gives a lot of free information on his blog about vision health and provides powerful, but quick exercises to practice daily, as well as running a commercial “vision gym” for pro-athletes. Importantly, Dr Cobb shows us just how – unexpectedly – important the eyes and vision are in direct connection to movement and stress reduction: hence eye exercise has very profound relevance for people with PD. I also recommend stimulation of the cranial nerves which are responsible for the muscles that move the eyes:

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The Retina In Parkinson’s Disease

A number of studies have found strong evidence for significant visual problems in the PwP population. These eye issues tend to worsen when a PwP is an “off” state, but improve again when they are “on” due to l-dopa supplementation. Visual problems that are strongly correlated with PD include:

  • motion perception

  • visual disturbances, hallucinations.

Sufficient evidence exists that these can be linked to dopamine deficiencies in the retina, and cannot all be ascribed to just being age related or to the cognitive decline of PD. Indeed, physical and structural changes to the eye and retina are also implicated in PD, as determined by a number of modern eye examination methods.

“The Parkinsonian retina may therefore exist in an inappropriately dark-adapted ( state. This, in turn, to lower spatial and temporal resolving potential and an ultimate impact on visual acuity, and colour perception. Evidence is now emerging that visual dysfunction directly contributes to more traditional motor complications of PD

Vision Problems Common In Parkinsons Disease

Eye Test May Reveal Parkinsonâs Disease Earlier

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People with Parkinsons disease have a higher prevalence of ophthalmologic symptoms than those without the disease, according to research published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

It is especially important for people with Parkinsons to have the best vision possible because it can help compensate for movement problems caused by the disease, and help reduce the risk of falls,Carlijn D.J.M. Borm, MD, of the Radboud University Medical Centre in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, said in a press release. Our study found not only that people with Parkinsons disease had eye problems that go beyond the aging process, we also found those problems may interfere with their daily lives.

Borm and colleagues conducted an observational, cross-sectional study across multiple centers in the Netherlands and Austria as part of a larger study on visual impairments in patients with Parkinsons disease.

The researchers evaluated the prevalence and clinical effects of ophthalmologic symptoms in adults using participant responses to the Visual Impairment in Parkinsons Disease Screening Questionnaire. The questionnaire included questions on demographic information and visual hallucinations, and assessed the four domains of ophthalmologic disorders ocular surface, intraocular, oculomotor and optic nerve.

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My Parkinson’s Story: Visual Disturbances

This 6-minute video alternates between an interview with a man and and doctors. The man shares his vision changes due to Parkinson’s disease. The doctors explain that the muscles of the eyes develop a tremor in those with Parkinson’s disease, causing blurry vision. Parkinson’s medication reduces eye tremors by 75-90%, but eye exercises and reading are also beneficial.

Involuntary Eye Closure & Eyelid Drooping

Its not uncommon for seniors with Parkinsons disease to experience involuntary eye closure . Eyelids may also droop due to muscle weakness or nerve damage caused by the disease. Both of these issues can narrow the field of vision and contribute to difficulty with navigation and coordination. Vision problems of this nature also increase the risk of falling for seniors with PD. Under certain circumstances, Botox injections may be recommended to address issues with eyelid drooping.

If your loved one is living with vision problems and needs assistance with daily tasks, help is available. Seniors can face a variety of challenges as they age, many of which can be mitigated with the help of professional in-home caregivers who provide high-quality elderly home care.Trust Home Care Assistance to help your elderly loved one age in place safely and comfortably.

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Everyone Needs Regular Eye Exams

Even people with perfect eyesight should schedule regular eye exams as part of their preventative care routine. These exams are essential for screening for eye diseases and preserving your vision. Typically, an eye exam includes visual acuity tests , depth perception tests, eye alignment, and eye movement. Your eye physician may also use eye drops to dilate your pupils, allowing them to check for common eye problems such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration.

These are important for people with Parkinsons to keep in mind for two reasons: first, up to half of all vision loss in the US is preventable or treatable with early detection through annual eye exams, and second, vision loss has a disproportionate impact on people with Parkinsons: it increases the risk of falls, hip fractures, depression, anxiety, hallucinations, and dementia.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that all adults over 65 receive a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years. The recommended frequency of eye exams is every two to four years for age 40-54 and every one to three years for age 55-64. If you have a history of diabetes or are at an increased risk of glaucoma , you should have an eye exam every year regardless of age.

Vision Problems May Be Common In People With Parkinsons Disease

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The American Academy of Neurology is the worlds largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals, with 38,000 members. The AAN is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimers disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, concussion, Parkinsons disease and epilepsy.

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Vision Problems More Common In Patients With Parkinson Disease

This article, Vision Problems May Be Common in Parkinson Disease, was originally published on NeurologyLive.

Results of a new study have uncovered a link between the development of Parkinson disease and an increase in ophthalmologic symptoms that impact a patients day-to-day activities.

The study, which included 848 patients with Parkinson and 250 healthy controls, showed that 82% of those with disease had 1 ophthalmologic symptom in comparison with 48% of the control group . Study author Carlijn D.J.M. Borm, MD, of Radboud University Medical Centre in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, and colleagues noted that screening questionnaires like the Visual Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire which the study utilizedmay aid in recognizing these vision problems, thus improving timely treatment.

It is especially important for people with Parkinsons to have the best vision possible because it can help compensate for movement problems caused by the disease, and help reduce the risk of falls, Borm said in a statement. Our study found not only that people with Parkinsons disease had eye problems that go beyond the aging process, we also found those problems may interfere with their daily lives. Yet a majority of eye problems are treatable, so its important that people with Parkinsons be screened and treated if possible.

What Happens At The Exam

If your doctor thinks you might have Parkinsonâs disease, theyll recommend that you see a specialist who works with nervous system issues, called a neurologist. One whoâs also trained in movement disorders, like Parkinsonâs, may be able to make the right diagnosis faster.

Your neurologist will probably want to see how well your arms and legs move and check your muscle tone and balance.

They may ask you to get out of a chair without using your arms for support, for example. They also may ask a few questions:

  • What other medical conditions do you have now or have you had in the past?
  • What medications do you take?
  • Has your handwriting gotten smaller?
  • Do you have trouble with buttons or getting dressed?
  • Do your feet feel âstuckâ to the floor when you try to walk or turn?
  • Do people say your voice is softer or your speech is slurred?

Tell your doctor if youâve noticed a change in your sense of smell or you have trouble with sleep, memory, or mood.

Parkinsonâs disease can look different from person to person. Many people have some symptoms and not others.

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Blurred Vision And Difficulty Focussing

Some Parkinsons medications, in particular anticholinergics, can cause blurred vision and difficulty focussing. You may find your vision is blurred if you start taking anticholinergics and that this goes away when your body gets used to the new drug. This can also happen if you have been taking anticholinergics for some time but your dose is altered. If necessary your doctor may adjust your medication regime.

Talk with your doctor if blurred vision does not improve or worsens over time, so that your medication can be adjusted if necessary. If you wear reading glasses, a slight adjustment may also help. Your optician or optometrist should be able to help with this.

Ocular Motor And Sensory Function In Parkinson Disease

Healthwatch: Parkinsons’ Patients Are More Likely To Have Eye Problems

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of dopaminergic medication and deep brain stimulation on ocular function in Parkinson Disease and to measure vision-elated quality of life in subjects with PD. The conclusion is that convergence ability is significantly poorer in PD subjects in both on and off states compared with controls, but significantly improves with systemic dopaminergic treatment. Ocular motor function in PD subjects fluctuates in response to treatment, which complicates ophthalmic management. PD subjects have a significant reduction in vision-related quality of life, especially near activities, that it not associated with visual acuity.

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There Are Many Types Of Professionals Who Can Help

While there are no proven ways to prevent most ocular conditions from developing, routine visits with an eye care professional can lead to early recognition and treatment of eye issues before they harm your quality of life. Between you, your neurologist, and an ophthalmologist, most visual complaints can be handled. However, when symptoms remain unchanged and unexplained, consultation with a neuro-ophthalmologist is probably warranted.

A neuro-ophthalmologist is either a neurologist or an ophthalmologist with fellowship training in neuro-ophthalmology. Neuro-ophthalmologists have a unique appreciation for the intersection of the eyes and the brain and perform comprehensive testing in the office to determine where a visual or eye movement problem could originate. Once the location of the disturbance is identified, diagnostic testing , treatments, and therapies can be customized depending on the individual and their concerns.

While your eye care professional may not be aware of common ocular symptoms that people living with Parkinsons experience, explaining the kinds of situations and triggers that bring on eye symptoms is usually enough for your physician to know where to look during the examination . Keeping a journal or diary of symptoms can also be helpful for both you and your physician.

Eye Problems In Parkinsons Disease

PD patients often have a lot of difficulty with their vision, although, when I examine them in the office, the visual acuity is often normal. Problems can come from difficulty in moving the eyes and eyelids, as well problems with blinking and dryness. Most of these conditions arise from Parkinsons Disease itself, while others may be caused by the medications required to treat PD.

Many Parkinsons Disease patients complain of trouble reading. One common cause of this is called convergence insufficiency. In order to see clearly up close, normal eyes must converge or cross inwards to see a single image. If convergence is defective, a person will have double vision when trying to see close up. Sometimes placing prisms in the reading glasses can alleviate this problem. Often, however, just covering one eye may be the only way to eliminate the symptom.

Other eyelid movement problems can contribute to visual difficulty in Parkinsons Disease patients. Parkinsons Disease patients may have intermittent blepharospasm, especially when the eyelids or brows are touched. The patient involuntarily squeezes his eyes shut and may have difficulty opening them as well. This is why Parkinsons Disease patients often have difficulty during eye exams, when the doctor is holding the eyelids open for examination or to measure eye pressures.

Dr Elliott Perlman, MD Rhode Island Eye Institute 150 E. Manning St. Providence, RI 02906

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Saccadic And Smooth Pursuit Eye Movements

EOG recordings have been made before and after apomorphine treatment in patients with early-stage disease and have confirmed that smooth pursuit movements are affected during the initial stages of the disease . In addition, patients with PD often have difficulty in sustaining repetitive actions and hence, smooth pursuit movements exhibit a reduction in response magnitude and a progressive decline of response with stimulus repetition.

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Ocular And Visual Manifestations Of Parkinsons Disease: A Teaching Case Report

Parkinson disease

Jolinda Tam, OD, and Pauline F. Ilsen, OD, FAAO

Abstract

Parkinsons disease is a common neurodegenerative condition affecting the elderly population. It is pathologically characterized by decreased dopamine levels from damage to the substantia nigra, which results in the classic motor deficits. It is less commonly known that individuals with PD are at increased risk for ocular and visual problems, including dry eyes, diplopia, contrast sensitivity loss, impairment in color vision, glaucoma-like defects, impairment of visuospatial functions, and visual hallucinations. This teaching case report incorporates a case of PD and discusses the ocular and visual manifestations, differentials, management and current research on the disease.

Key Words: Parkinsons disease, dry eyes, diplopia, contrast sensitivity loss, visual hallucination

Background

Though the motor impairments of PD are well-established, the ocular and visual manifestations are not widely recognized.3,5-8 With a rise in the aging population, it is of great importance that eyecare providers are aware of these findings so they can better care for patients with PD.1 Furthermore, greater dependence is placed on vision to guide patients in daily activities when they have motor dysfunctions.3,6,8

Case Description

Figure 1. HVF 24-2 SITA Fast testing of the right eye.

Education Guidelines

  • Recognize that PD affects the ocular and visual system in addition to systemic motor function
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