PMR pain and vision

@bostonredsox1945, I have had PMR occurrences twice and both times my rheumatologist and primary care docs told me to let them know if I had any headaches, scalp tenderness, pain in the temple area or changes in vision and vision problems. The big concern if you have PMR is that you don't also have or develop Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA).

"People with polymyalgia rheumatica sometimes have another disorder called giant cell arteritis, which is associated with inflammation of arteries, especially those located on each side of the head, scalp, and the aorta (the large artery that carries blood from the heart) and its main branches. Headaches, scalp tenderness, and jaw pain are common features of giant cell arteritis. If the blood vessels that nourish the eyes are affected, there may be visual problems such as fleeting or permanent vision loss or double vision. It is important to seek treatment right away if you have visual symptoms, because if left untreated they may potentially lead to permanent blindness. Giant cell arteritis is also known as temporal arteritis and Horton disease."
-- Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/polymyalgia-rheumatica-giant-cell-arteritis
Have you discussed the vision symptoms with your doctor or rheumatologist?

My vision changed after starting Prednisone, went from far sighted to nearsighted. My eye doctor says no, but the change was pretty dramatic.

I have experienced blurry vision since the beginning of my PMR. My doctor said I also had GCA, and I did go to see an eye doctor. My blurry vision comes and goes, but the eye doctor could see no reason for it. I don't know if it is something they need to "catch in the moment" or not. It is dramatic when it happens. All at once it is as if lotion has been smeared over my eyes. But it is not painful. It lasts for a few hours and has gone away. Sometimes I have tenderness in the scalp, and sometimes not.
I have been weaning off of prednisone for the past several months. A little over a month ago my doctor put me on Methotrexate to help me during the transition. I know others have not had good luck with this drug, but I think It has really helped. Over the past month I have been able to taper from 6mg to 4 mg with very little pain changes. I notice more stiffness in legs and some pain in hips, but not an increase in neck and shoulder pain.

I developed a cataract in one eye and severe glaucoma in the other. Be sure to get frequent eye check ups while on prednisone and act quickly when necessary to preserve your vision.

Yes, my vision has definitely been affected by my PMR. I have bags under both eyes, my vision is blurry and my eyes often feel "squinty". I did go to the eye doctor to check for cataracts but none were found. I suspect some of my eye issues are from PMR and some from Prednisone. I've tapered from 10 mg down to 5, 1/2 mg taper every month. I'm a bit nervous about going below 5 mg, but ya don't know until ya try.

I’ve had some trouble with my vision also, just never tied it in with my PMR! I don’t have any other symptoms of GCA, I do know to look for those. One day it felt like I had Vaseline over my eyes! But using dry eye drops and putting a warm compress helped get rid of that. It’s frustrating because I just had a diabetic eye exam and an exam for glasses and now my vision is off and on blurry! I have an appointment with my pcp today and I’m going to ask her about it.

I am interested to hear what she says. Good luck.
Therese

Just as data to add to the mix: I have had PMR for a year and a half, have never taken prednisone or any other drug except aspirin, and have never had blurry vision. So maybe it’s the pred?
I’d also like to encourage anyone with cataracts to have them removed! The surgery is very easy (choose a good doctor!) and will change your life!

So I saw my pcp and she seems to think because it comes and goes that it is from my diabetes, which it could. I also did labs from her and some that my rheumatologist ordered. My HbgA1c (for my blood sugar average) was 7.8, a little over the max normal which is 7,4. My ESR was 44 (n. is 0-30) and my CRP is 44.8 (n is less than 7.4mg). Blood sugar is not that bad. My PMR is in flare, which I knew. Making appointment with my rheumatologist so I can get started on the Actemra infusion. Right now I’m only taking 7.5 mg of prednisone for my PMR.

I had a similar feeling of lotion or Vaseline smeared over my eyes that lasted a few hours and went away—it was very scary at the time!
As I mentioned in another post here, did not really get an answer to this, I don’t think it’s my blood sugar like my PCP said—blood drawn the day I saw her showed I was in a PMR flare!! I also have very early cataracts according to the ophthalmologist, that so far I don’t need surgery for yet. My rheumatologist does not want to increase my prednisone (on 7.5 mg) because I’m on treatment for my osteoporosis (Reclast)! My one hope is the Actemra that he wants me to take. It is either an injection or infusion and hopefully will have no nasty side effects.