Blurred vision

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II am 75yrs old. I'd value any advice/ comment on why my eyesight is suddenly failing sine June this year. Is this an experience other multiple myeloma patients have experienced? Is it permanent or reversible? Is chemo the cause?

A more detailed backstory may help.

Ive been on chemo for 9yrs following a stem cell transplant. There have been " highs & lows" over this time with me currently on my 24th cycle. I understand this cycle is the last available. I'm currently on Isabudmab infusion & Zemeta. The treatment has been " succesful" in keping my paraproteins very very low.

But since June.this year my vision has markedly deteriorated so now my wife does all the driving. I've had 2 eye tests and they see no deterioration, glaucoma or cataracts forming.But two nurses have commented that chemo is the cause. The consultants are slow to draw the same conclusion.

I'm wondering if I should come of the treatment entirely, for a trial period to see if it is the treatment that is the cause. I speak to the consultant next thursday. Yet I'd value any feedback for that ocassion. Many thanks.

Certain hope!

Joanne - Macmillan 1 day ago

Dear Certain Hope79bb71

Thanks for getting in touch with us and welcome to our online community. I hope you find it a helpful and supportive way to communicate with others. My name is Joanne and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialist’s on the Macmillan Support Line.

I’m sorry to hear that you have been experiencing failing eyesight since June and that it is impacting your quality of life as you are now unable to drive.

Visual problems can occur with myeloma and sometimes the treatments can cause or make worse these problems. Myeloma UK have produced a booklet which details possible eye complications.

There may also be an unrelated reason for the deterioration in your eyesight although 2 eye tests haven’t detected any cause. There are other medical conditions such as diabetes which can affect our vision so it may be wise to see your GP to see if there is another cause.

You ask if you should come of treatment entirely. We would recommend you have a detailed conversation with your consultant before making any decisions. Stopping treatment may or may not help with your vision but it there would be a risk that the myeloma could progress.

It isn’t possible to say if the changes to your eyesight are permanent or reversible as that would depend on the cause. I do wonder though if you would benefit from a referral to an ophthalmic specialist.

I also wonder if you might benefit from giving our support line a call. We often find we can explain our answers in a bit more detail over the phone, giving you the opportunity to ask more questions if needed. It can be very overwhelming not knowing how things might affect you moving forward and sometimes talking things through can make decisions easier.

If there is anything else we can help you with please, feel free to get back in touch.

Best wishes

Joanne, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.

Ref/ JF/DK

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Blurred vision