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I Have Lost Significant Visual Acuity In The Recent 2
Question: I have lost significant visual acuity in the recent 2 year period, after a course of abdominal surgery to remove a foot of my sigmoid colon, due to diverticulitis swelling and blockage. Ileostomy was also done, recovery complicated by pulmonary animism, right lung collapse, heavy antibiotics, including metronidazole, vision loss first noticed in 2016, about 8 months after surgery, degraded much more a year later-light and contrast range decreased, focus is about the same as before, glare or backlighting creates serious problems! How likely is this a result of the antibiotics or blood thinner I took (xaralto)prior to surgery, I had exceptional low light vision, and could easily see small print, and identify color codes on electronic parts, that challenged many people of 1/2 my age of 68 years! Now, I have difficulty shopping, as items tend to blend together, due to loss of contrast detection in my eyesight. This worries me! I am now a single, 71 year old Army Veteran.
Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
Hi and Welcome to Ask A Doctor service.
I have read your question and here is my advice.
Sorry to hear of your disease.I can understand your concern.
To be very honest , the drugs you mentioned do not commonly cause eye problem. Though we cannot be sure for this , but it's unlikely to be caused by any of the drug or surgory. There are more ommon causes that may explain this .
Many diseases can cause vision loss .Glaucoma is one cause , but if it's reversed , things should have been better ; though sometimes it may leave permanent deficit in the vision .Infact your opthalmalogist would be in best position to say what could be the probable cause for your vision loss.
cataract is also one ommon cause of low vision , you are right it's obviously seen some times , but many times a cataract may not be obvious enough to be seen but that may cause vision problem. So if your doctor think it's cataract probably it is there even if not seen .You can always ask for second opinion.
wether vision improvement is possible or not: quite depends on your disease.Some diseases are not reversible like age related macular degeneration , but other are quite manageable .If it's a cataract , surgory can really help improve you vision alot. Even if sometimes some diseases cannot be reversed, glasses or other devices may help your vision.
So discuss with your opthalmalogist, tell him your concerns , I hope there would be some way forward.
Hopes I have answered your question. I will be glad to answer any further question about this. kind Regards Dr Rahman
Please see details
Detailed Answer:
Hi and Welcome to Ask A Doctor service.
I have read your question and here is my advice.
Sorry to hear of your disease.I can understand your concern.
To be very honest , the drugs you mentioned do not commonly cause eye problem. Though we cannot be sure for this , but it's unlikely to be caused by any of the drug or surgory. There are more ommon causes that may explain this .
Many diseases can cause vision loss .Glaucoma is one cause , but if it's reversed , things should have been better ; though sometimes it may leave permanent deficit in the vision .Infact your opthalmalogist would be in best position to say what could be the probable cause for your vision loss.
cataract is also one ommon cause of low vision , you are right it's obviously seen some times , but many times a cataract may not be obvious enough to be seen but that may cause vision problem. So if your doctor think it's cataract probably it is there even if not seen .You can always ask for second opinion.
wether vision improvement is possible or not: quite depends on your disease.Some diseases are not reversible like age related macular degeneration , but other are quite manageable .If it's a cataract , surgory can really help improve you vision alot. Even if sometimes some diseases cannot be reversed, glasses or other devices may help your vision.
So discuss with your opthalmalogist, tell him your concerns , I hope there would be some way forward.
Hopes I have answered your question. I will be glad to answer any further question about this. kind Regards Dr Rahman
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Answered by
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