Parkinson’s often gives rise to visual problems and many people develop double or blurred vision. This is largely due to the dopamine deficit in the basal ganglia affecting eye muscles.
Visual hallucinations, in relation to overdosing of dopaminergic medication, also frequently appear in later stages. Appropriate treatments and adjustments of medication can help to minimise these visual problems. When blinking is too infrequent, eyes become dry or red and the doctor can prescribe artificial tears (methyl cellulose eye drops).
I have double vision with Parkinson’s which is often a problem, except when I see two gorgeous models on the television! Minor hallucinations make it also hard for me to trust my own eyes from time-to-time. My wife wants me to give up driving the car but for me it would be losing independence. What shall I do when I have difficulties scanning the road, keeping the car in the correct lane and identifying roadside landmarks? I have not yet decided what to do.
T. Yılmaz
Istanbul, Turkey
