What Effect Does Parkinson Disease Have on Your Eyesight?

Parkinson's disease effects many aspects of a patient's life. One of the aspects is a person's eyesight. Parkinson's can seriously impair the ability to see.

Vision Effects

• According to the Parkinson's Society of New Zealand, the most common eye problems with this condition are double vision, blurry vision, watery eyes, and dry eyes. Other effects include difficulty judging distance and difficulty moving the eyes.

Causes

• Parkinson's disease can cause extreme fatigue. Fatigue can cause blurred vision, dry eyes, watery eyes, and double vision. The medications prescribed to treat the condition may also play a part. The general tremors and moving impairments associated with the disease can lead to difficulty moving the eyes and judging distance.

Treatment

• Some of these conditions such as difficulty moving the eyes can be treated with Parkinson's medication. Other symptoms may be caused by the medication. A doctor will be able to prescribe the best medication for the severity of the condition.

Time Frame

• Most vision difficulties in Parkinson's disease are usually permanent. However, if the symptoms are caused by medication, then they may be corrected by switching to a different medication. Other problems such as doubled vision and difficulty judging distance are a result of the condition itself. These can be helped with proper corrective lenses. Symptoms like watery eyes may come and go when the patient becomes more fatigued than usual.

Warning

• Many of these vision impairments can cause driving to be dangerous. Those experiencing these symptoms should not drive unless otherwise stated by a doctor.