Coping with Parkinson’s Vision Changes | Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month

Parkinson’s disease affects the central nervous system. The disease is progressive and chronic. According to the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, in the United States, about one million people have Parkinson’s disease.  

Because Parkinson’s disease affects the central nervous system, it can cause several symptoms, such as muscle stiffness, impaired balance, and muscle tremors. 
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However, symptoms may also affect many other areas of the body, including the eyes. 

April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month. It is an opportunity to better understand this neurological disease and its effects on vision. 
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Risks and causes of Parkinson’s disease 

Researchers do not know the exact cause of Parkinson’s disease. According to the National Institute on Aging, a combination of genetic and environmental factors is likely to contribute to the development of Parkinson’s. 

Risk factors include: 

• Being over age 60
• Having a family history of Parkinson’s 
• Gender (males are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease) 

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How can Parkinson’s disease affect the eyes? 

Your brain plays a significant role in your vision. When a disease or disorder affects the brain, in some instances it may also affect vision. Although everyone has their own unique experience with Parkinson’s disease, some people develop symptoms related to vision or the eyes. 

Additionally, most people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease are 60 or older. This is also the time when vision may change due to common eye diseases that occur more often with age. 

According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, some of the possible eye changes include the following: 

Dry eyes: Individuals with Parkinson’s may have an increased risk of developing dry eyes. Dry eyes may occur because Parkinson’s can lead to decreased blinking.

Double vision: Double vision may occur because the eye muscles start to have trouble working together. Special glasses called prism glasses may help. 

Trouble reading: People with Parkinson’s disease may have problems with normal eye movements. As the disease progresses, it may become difficult to move the eyes so that one can read the lines of a page. 

Apraxia: Apraxia involves problems opening the eyes. It can occur because the signals to the eyelid from the brain become disrupted. Medication may help treat apraxia. 

Visual hallucinations: This is not a problem with the eye itself. It is related to changes within the brain. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, about 50 percent of people with the disease will develop visual hallucinations at some point. The exact reason why it occurs is not clear. 
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Coping with eye changes caused by Parkinson’s

Fortunately, many of the eye issues associated with Parkinson’s are treatable. There are certain steps you can take to cope with eye issues, such as the following: 

Maintain an active lifestyle: Some research indicates that exercise is important for eye health. It also appears to be beneficial for people with Parkinson’s disease. According to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, exercise may slow the progression of the disease. 

Have regular eye exams: Regular eye exams can help with early diagnosis of eye problems and other eye diseases that may occur unrelated to Parkinson’s. 

Use eye drops: Over-the-counter eye drops and artificial tears can help minimize dry eyes. The drops can ease soreness, redness, and irritation. 

Consider prism glasses: If you have double vision, talk to your doctor about prism glasses, which may help correct double vision. 

Consider seeing a neuro-ophthalmologist: This specialist is trained in diagnosing and treating vision and eye problems associated with neurological diseases.

We hope the information above was helpful if you or a loved one are dealing with Parkinson’s disease. As always, we are happy to answer any questions. 

If you would like to ask whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors would be appropriate at this time, call our office at 508-746-8600.