Eye issues

Saya_G

My mom had an eye exam just a few months back. Doc said not issues, prescription stays the same.

The issue is that her left eye is getting 'lazy' her eye lid doesn't open all they way and she is telling us she doesn't see well any more. At least that is what she says one minute, next she says she sees fine. 

Problem is that the eye seems to be almost closed, so I can understand why she might not be seeing out of that eye. I'm wondering if the eye itself is fine, it's just closed so she can't see thru the lid.

Is this an issue that some have with their loved one. I do plan to talk to her doctor and possibly make another eye appointment if needed. 

Any input appreciated.

Thanks,

Saya_G

Rescue mom

Sayra, with the lid that doesn’t fully open, does she have thyroid problems?  Some people with thyroid problems develop problems with the muscles surrounding the eye, especially how much the lid may open/close. It rarely affects actual vision, just the surrounding muscles. (That itself can cause some problems, but usually not like you’re talking about).

If she already *does* have thyroid problems (as I do) my docs had me go to an neuro-ophthalmologist who specializes in thyroid eye disease. How far you’d pursue that with a dementia patient,  I don’t know.

Saya_G

Rescue Mom,

Thanks for your reply. My mom is 86, is in moderate to late stage dementia (favoring late). She has never been diagnosed with thyroid problems. I did find information on "Drooping Eye/ Ptosis" - that might be her problem. Aging is often the cause (there are 5 other possible causes). 

Honestly my mother's dementia is so far along that I doubt she could handle the surgery to 'lift the lid' to help with the drooping - that is, if aging is the determined cause. 

That said, I am not a doctor - and do not try to practice being one via Internet searches! But, reading about possible causes does help me with forming pertinent questions when we do she the doctor. I will talk to her hospice nurse this week to have her look mom over and we will go from there. 

I posted here to get input from others that might have had, or whose LO might have had a similar issue - like you

Thanks again for your input! I will ask the nurse about the possibility of a thyroid problem having developed.

Saya_G

Whyzit

Droopy eye is annoying and does interfere with vision. I injured my eye in a fall and will have surgery to correct it (done by plastic surgeon) after I have cataract surgery. Eye specialist said sometimes cataract surgery contributes to droopy eye lids. Can hardly wait for this to be done.