Lamictal and eye exams

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CathyAnn31

CathyAnn31

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I know lamictal can affect eyesight. Would it be worth it to have an exam and get glasses? I know I'd fail the tests and glasses are inevitable. But will my vision improve with a different med making the glasses useless?

What do you think?

My eyes have gotten increasingly worse the last couple years, even before I began taking the meds.

Thanks. :)
 
It depends on how your vision is changed. If you need reading glasses, that's due to a function of age, rather than something caused by the Lamictal, so you should go ahead and get them.

There haven't been any studies about Lamictal-related vision side effects (which makes me very cranky), so it's hard to know if your vision would improve if you switched to a different med. What I've read anecdotally suggests that the vision changes are permanent or perhaps very slow to fade. A study on rats that showed that after a SINGLE dose of Lamictal, it was still bound to the protein of the eye 11 months later.

Before going on Lamictal I had perfect vision (from laser surgery). Since going on it I get blurry vision on and off throughout the day. My reading vision is fine, and I haven't had to get glasses yet, but it's disconcerting to have to squint to see words on the TV or to read street signs.
 
I had the same vision problem with Lamicatal that I do with Trileptal. It looks like I'm looking at everything under water, plus a halo around lights. It's weird and it makes my eyes hurt, but I can still pretty much see to get around. After awhile I have to let my eyes rest. I don't know if my eyes have to work harder or what.
 
Hi endless, thanks 4 droppin in.

My eyesight has been going south for a few years. Took a huge dive when I turned 40..lol. It appears one eye is near sighted, the other far sighted. I was reluctant to make an appt for an exam because we dont have a vision plan. I was pleasantly surprised when I learned today that the exam is $50 and Walmart, and $60 at Target. I chose Target because I have something I need to return there anyhow. I go tomorrow at noon. I now wonder if eye strain has been a factor in the headaches I get.

I am just too vein I think. I've never looked good in any glasses or even hats for that matter. No way could I do contacts though, the thought of touching my eyeball makes me squeemish. A friend told me she'd come frame shopping to offer her opinions. I'll be taking her up on her offer.
 
There are actually some pretty nice frames out there now -- glasses are trendy! If I ever do end up needing them again, I don't think I'll mind (except for the general inconvenience of trying not lose the glasses or sit on them, and having to remember to take them off while swimming).
 
I've never heard that Lamictal could do that. Explains a lot of things. 2 new pairs of tri-focals in one year.
 
Does anyone see floating spots? Almost clear, like watching falling dust? I have those at least 3 times a week.
 
Yep, I get them. Some are threads and some are spots. Some white or clear, some black. They ususally go away within an hour.
 
At least I'm not the only one. Any idea what they are? side effect, form of seizure?
 
I think it could be either a side effect or a seizure. I have no idea which mine are. It was really bad on Topamax. Just annoying on Trileptal.

It's the wavy underwater vision on Trileptal thats making me nuts.
 
Once every blue moon I see floating spots, usually in the morning. I've always assumed it to be a side-effect of my Tegretol.
 
My vision is up and down, as I've worn glasses for years...
I have had to change my lens several times, I have noticed Benzos suxh as Klonopin, Valium, Ativan and so on causes me to be blurried eyed more...
but they are downers and I guess that's to be expected...
Lamictal, medicines effect all of us differently, but the Benzos cause me to have vision changes moreover..
Billy :twocents:
 
Does anybody get vision that looks like the world is under water, from ANY of their meds? I do. I told the doctor this yesterday, and he gave me a strange look. Am I alone in this?
 
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