Tens of thousands of people in the UK are facing vision deterioration and even blindness without knowing it.
A recent news story reported that more than 70,000 Britons are currently living with pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic disease which causes lung tissue to become damaged and scarred, making breathing difficult and reducing the amount of oxygen entering the blood.
But another symptom of pulmonary fibrosis is much less well known. Reduced oxygen in the blood can impact the retina and optic nerve, which can, over time, cause changes to vision – and without treatment, blindness.
Routine eye examinations are critical for people living with the pulmonary fibrosis as optometrists can then detect problems early and seek GP help.
Vision changes as a result of pulmonary fibrosis can range from:
- Blurred vision
- Retinal damage
- Blood vessels in the eyes that are darker and more prominent
On top of this, treatments for pulmonary fibrosis, such as corticosteroids, can also increase the risk of developing cataracts, where the lens of the eye becomes cloudy and vision blurred.
To protect their eye health, people with pulmonary fibrosis should be sure to attend regular eye exams, as the changes in the retina and optic nerve develop silently, before progressing to more serious problems.
If you have pulmonary fibrosis and are worried about your sight, book an eye test now.
What causes pulmonary fibrosis?
From what we have learned so far, there is no single cause of pulmonary fibrosis. Instead, we talk about different risk factors. Risk factors can lead to inflammation or lung cells ageing too quickly. This can increase the risk of scarring.
Pulmonary fibrosis risk factors
Risk factors for pulmonary fibrosis can include:
- Ageing
- Family history (the genes inherited from your parents)
- Breathing in something that irritates the lungs, such as smoke or dust – this will usually happen repeatedly over a long time
- Some medications
- Other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
Many people with pulmonary fibrosis have a combination of risk factors. Your medical team will try to find your risk factors. This helps them diagnose the correct type of pulmonary fibrosis.
What are the other hidden illnesses that affect the eyes?
Other illnesses that have the potential to effect eyesight, that you might not be aware of, include:
- Thyroid dysfunction: Can lead to thyroid eye disease which causes bulging eyes, eyelid retraction and inflammation
- Giant Cell Arteritis: An inflammation of arteries that can damage the optic nerve
- Sexually Transmitted Infections: STIs such as syphilis, herpes, and chlamydia can affect the eyes. Ocular herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus.
- Common Cold/Flu: These can cause eye fatigue, dryness, and infections like pink eye.
- Shingles: The varicella-zoster virus can cause a shingles rash near the eye, potentially leading to corneal infections.