Vision

[PaleoMan]

Hi, I'm a new poster here, though I've searched info on this board before. I suppose the correct term for my condition would be gluten sensitive enteropathy since I didn't get a biopsy and therefore don't qualify clinically as celiac.

One of the more startling improvements I've experienced on a gluten-free diet is improvement of my nearsightedness. I haven't seen anyone else here mention that improvement, though I have seen mention of double vision and blurry vision. Has anyone else experienced an improvement in visual acuity? For the first time in over a decade I can see well enough to walk around in the house without my eyeglasses if I want to, and I can read without my glasses if I hold the material up close, also for the first time in many years. Also, my night vision seems to have improved a bit, after deteriorating in recent years.

I haven't found mention anywhere on the Net of nearsightedness being a symptom of celiac, but I have found it mentioned as a symptom of Marfan syndrome, which has celiac disease as one of its manifestations, and I do have several Marfan characteristics. I don't qualify clinically as having Marfan either, as my armspan to height ratio is 1.042, which is slightly below the minimum of 1.05 necessary to be categorized as having Marfan syndrome.

My sister also has experienced vision improvement since going gluten free. She also has some Marfan characteristics but also does not qualify as having clinical Marfan syndrome.

[gf4life]

I certainly hope my vision clears up a bit. I've only been gluten-free for two months. I have astigmatism and a little bit of nearsightedness, and really bad night-blindness. My husband has to take off work if we have out of town doctors appts. since I don't want to get stuck out of town and not be able to see to drive home. So I hope this gets better after a while. How long have you been gluten-free?

And I'm not technically Celiac either, since my biopsy came back neg. but I do carry the gene and tested positive with Enterolab.

I'd like to know how many others had improvement of vision.

God bless,

Mariann

[Guest Libbyk]

Much to my shock, my vision has improved noticably since I have been gluten free. It wasn't all that bad to begin with, but I got hedaches and hated to drive at night. Now, not a problem.

Wow.

Libby

[Lily]

My night vision is improving since going gluten free

Lily

[bluestar]

My vision has not improved with the diet. My eyes are always dry and my vision in general has gotton worse. I have been on the diet for about 5 years. I thought that I might have sjorgens (it can be associated with c.d. as both are autoimmune diseases) but I don't. Once again, I must keep in mind that everything is not necessarily related to c.d. Any thoughts?

Marc

[Guest aramgard]

Marc, My vision has also gotten worse since I've been gluten free. My eyes are dry most of the time, but suddenly they will become very watery for a while then back to dry, itchy and blurry. They tested me for Sjogren's but said I didn't have it. Of course, the ENT doctor who tested me was not very helpful and just said I would have to learn to live with it. The allergist gave me Patanol, which is very expensive, but does help a little, especially when they get very itcthy. I think I was diagnosed much to late to improve some things in my life. Shirley

[celiacfreeman]

My night vision is sooo much better after 4 weeks gluten-free.

unbelievable difference.

[layla73]

hi,

I'm new here.My vision has gotten worse.I have been on a diet for 2 years.

I have diplopi and vertigo.

I went to a neurologist and he said that all those things might be cause of sixth nerve pulse or myasthenia gravis which is also an auto ımmun disease.

Do you have any suggestion?

THNKS..

[PaleoMan]

Thanks for the replies, folks--sorry for my slowness in responding back. I'm no expert, but I found that going gluten-free was not enough for me. I found that I was sensitive to other foods, in addition to gluten, and that I have significant vitamin and mineral deficiencies from gluten. Because of my other sensitivities I am on a Paleo diet (which prohibits grains, cow's dairy, legumes and other "modern" foods) with citrus fruits and walnuts also excluded.

I am especially magnesium deficient. I read that magnesium deficiency is a common side effect of celiac disease, and that magnesium deficiency can cause constipation, near sightedness and other symptoms that I have. So I have been taking 1,500 mg magnesium (with calcium) daily and this has brought about additional improvements for me on top of the Paleo diet--especially with the constipation. My vision improvement has occurred in fits and starts and regresses when I accidentally eat the wrong foods. I am hoping that by sticking as much as possible to a strict Paleo diet and taking supplements that my vision will continue to improve.

[PaleoMan]

hi,

I'm new here.My vision has gotten worse.I have been on a diet for 2 years.

I have diplopi and vertigo.  

I went to a neurologist and he said that all those things might be cause of sixth nerve pulse or myasthenia gravis which is also an auto ımmun disease.

Do you have any suggestion?

THNKS..

Myasthenia gravis is certainly consistent with vertigo and diplopia (double vision), and Myasthenia gravis is associated with celiac disease. Multiple gluten-triggered autoimmune disorders involve damage to the inner and/or middle ear.

Vertigo can also be caused by inner ear damage from autoimmune inner ear disease, which is also associated with gluten sensitivity and celiac disease. This disease tends to involve deficiencies in magnesium and/or potassium and other nutrients.

You may have also noticed over the years that your balance in doing things like bicycling, somersaulting, underwater back somersaults, etc., is not as good as other people. Perhaps you may have noticed a ringing or background noise in one or both ears on occasion over the years or dizziness when rising suddenly from a chair or the floor. These manifestations would be further indication of a middle or inner ear problem. Scanning of your ear canals could reveal bone thinning and/or damage to the ear's hair cells.

You should also get checked for nutritional deficiencies such as magnesium, calcium, potassium and B-vitamins, which can contribute to inner ear damage and the resulting vertigo. An environmental doctor or doctor familiar with celiac disease and nutritional deficiencies would likely be more open to doing these tests and recommending supplements than the average general practitioner.

[Tye-Kon]

I was diognosed a few months ago and since then have been on a gluten free diet. I have noticed that I can see better at night and my vision isn't as blurry as it use to be, especially when I first wake up in the morning. I also have dry itchy eyes that become watery for no reason. I thought it was my allergies, I guess its just one more symptom of Celiacs! I wish my stomach problems would go away as quick as my vision problem did!HaHa Tye-kon

[jaimek]

I have been gluten-free for about 3 months now and have noticed that my eyes are crusty and a little stuck together when I wake up in the morning. I know, sounds gross but it has only been since going gluten-free. They also get very blood shot and I look like I got punched in the face. Haven't seen a doctor for this since I am just sick of going to the doctors. So, guess since other people have eye problems that it could be related to the Celiac? It doesn't affect my vision though. Anyone else experience this?

[Guest aramgard]

Sounds like either an allergy or a bacterial infection. I had a terrible eye problem and the allergist put me on eye drops, Patanol, which really worked wonderfully. If not you might try an over the counter allergy eye drop. Shirley

[celiacfreeman]

my eyes only feel like that within 2 hours of having had gluten.

It is the only way I know that I've ingested something I should not have.

I would go over everything again and Check your not getting some in any form, such as stamps, toasters, or other hidden sources.

[wwebby]

I am not gluten-free right now because I am getting tested again on the 29th, but last year, when I went gluten-free for a few months, to sort of test myself, I noticed a weird weird improvement in my eyesight. It wasn't really that I could see better, as in "less blurry." it was more that everything seemed brighter, sharper, and more vivid. It was really cool. Also, my ears cleared up. I loved seeing more vividly. I can't wait to go gluten-free again! I hate waiting for testing...

[Guest Addicted2Gluten]

I was diagnosed with extreme nearsightedness in one eye and needed to where glasses, since going off gluten (it took a few months) my eyesight came back was better than perfect 20/10. But, now that I'm just finishing up my 2-3 month gluten challenge my eyesight is worse again.

[jaimek]

Well, I found the culprit of my eye problem. The shampoo I was using had wheat in it. It was causing the severe redness under/in my eyes and the dry, puffiness. Needless to say, I threw it away. Weird cause it didn't cause that reaction before I went gluten-free but I guess my body is now having more serious reactions to gluten since cutting it out.

[plantime]

Jaimek, I read your post, and immediately went ot look at my shampoo! The conditioner,Matrix Curl Life defining system, has hydrolyzed wheat protein in it! I'll have to keep an "eye" on how I might react to that! Thank you for the "Head's" Up on it!

(all puns obviously intended)