Parkinson’s Disease is often seen as a movement and coordination concern, which it is, since many patients show a reduction in involuntary movements, which, in turn, causes stiff and slow movement, but that’s not all that Parkinson’s entails. Because it’s a degenerative disease, patients often experience a decline in cognitive and motor functions as the disease progresses. These functions include vision.

Parkinson’s patients frequently find themselves having trouble seeing, and that makes daily tasks like driving, reading, and even walking difficult.

More often than not, Parkinson’s patients are guided to believe that their eyesight problems are just a part of ageing, when in fact the eyesight system is just degenerating. Early diagnosis of eyesight problems is fundamental in ensuring a better quality of life for the patient.

Visual Problems and Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s has a pronounced effect on the connection between the brain and visual processing via its effect on dopamine. Dopamine plays many roles, but for Parkinson’s patients who still have a functioning eyesight system, it plays the role of involuntary movement and visual system coordination.

Parkinson’s will not normally cause total blindness, but it will cause many eyesight system issues.

Parkinson’s Vision Problems Symptoms

Not every Parkinson’s patient will experience vision problems. But of those who do, the common ones are:

• Blurred vision
• Double vision
• Frequent dry or irritated eyes
• Less frequent eye blinks
• Difficulties focusing while reading
• Poor depth perception
• Difficulties seeing in low light
• Difficulties seeing in reduced light
• Difficulties following moving objects
• Visual hallucinations (usually reserved for more advanced stages of the illness)

Most of these problems are diagnosed slowly and treated late, when they should be addressed immediately.

What Causes these Vision Problems?

While all of the problems that Parkinson’s patients face with eyesight systems are not related to degeneration of the systems, many of them are.

Lowered Dopamine

Dopamine is used by the brain and retina to refine visual perception. Reduced dopamine levels affect how we perceive colour, contrast, and the clarity of our overall vision.

Slower Eye Movement

Parkinson’s may affect the muscles that help move the eyes and may make it difficult to track and focus on moving objects.

Reduced Blinking

Parkinson’s patients may have a reduced blink rate. This also leads to dry, irritated eyes and may cause vision to become blurred.

Medication Side Effects

Blurred vision and visual hallucinations may be side effects of some of the medications prescribed for the management of Parkinson’s. If these symptoms appear, a physician may review the current medications.

Other Eye Problems

In other older adults, Parkinson’s may be combined with cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration. These also need to be treated and diagnosed separately.

How Are Vision Problems Diagnosed?

When there are changes to vision, a complete assessment is required to determine a cause.

To diagnose, the following may be completed:

• A review of the medical history and the presenting symptoms
• Assessment of the eyes in a complete eye exam
• Testing of vision and eye movements
• Assessment of eye alignment
• Neurologic exam
• Evaluation of the current medications prescribed for Parkinson’s

In a lot of cases, the most optimal treatment is achieved by the collaboration of the neurologist and the ophthalmologist.

Management of Vision Problems

Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson’s Disease. Still, the vast majority of the associated vision symptoms can be managed.

For some patients, eye movement and visual symptoms may improve through a change of medication. Reduced blinking and dry eyes may improve with the use of artificial teardrops. For some patients, blurred or double vision may be improved by a change in corrective lenses to prisms, or a new pair of glasses.

Safeguard your home with adequate stair lighting and helpful reading area lights. You can also increase your eye health with routine checkups. Glaucoma and cataracts can be caught early with regular checkups.

There are also many changes you can make to your everyday life. You can lower your risk of falls and increase your comfort by reading with the lights on, increasing your blink rate, and removing potential dangers from your home.

When Should You See a Doctor?

You should seek medical help if you have ever experienced sudden blurring of your vision, if you have persistent double vision, or if you have sudden loss of vision. Especially concerning are visual hallucinations, difficulty reading with glasses, and falling due to poor perception. All of these symptoms warrant a visit to the doctor for an early diagnosis.

Conclusion

There are a variety of symptoms of Parkinson’s beyond movement, and several of these can affect sight. Untreated, vision health can quickly decline. Dry eyes, difficulty focusing, and double vision can all be treated with a healthy lifestyle, frequent visits to the doctor, and the right medications.

At Royal Care Neurosciences, our dedicated neurologists treat all of the movement and non-movement symptoms of Parkinson’s comprehensively. For the best chance to improve your quality of life, early diagnosis of your symptoms is the best course of action.

FAQs

1. Can Parkinson’s disease affect eyesight?

Yes. It can affect many of the same areas that focus on vision and processing, which can cause double vision, blurred vision and many other visual symptoms.

2. Is there an option for treating eyesight issues caused by Parkinson’s?

There are many strategies Parkinson’s patients have benefitted from, including: adjusting medications, eye lubricants, new corrective lenses, and routine eye exams.

3. Can you go blind if you have Parkinson’s?

No, you can’t go blind from having Parkinson’s. It can affect the way you see and can certainly make daily tasks much more difficult.