Hyphema

[plumbago]

Hi all,

Yesterday I spent about 12 hours mostly waiting in the ER for what turned out to be a hyphema. In my case, an arteriole in my left eye was leaking RBCs. It affected/diminshed my vision (cloudiness, fogginess - both of which were very annoying), there was some photophobia and mild discomfort. In terms of causes, I was asked about trauma (none). Repeatedly I was asked if I was on blood thinners (no) and my platelets were ok. And then there is the question of glaucoma. The pressure in the left eye was elevated, but likely because of the blood. But it's possible prior added pressure could have had something to do with precipitating the vessel to break. Or both. (I am a glaucoma suspect.) What I'm mostly asking is if anything like this has happened to anyone here? I do not think there is a definitive link to Celiac, but the ED ophthalmologist (who was basically stumped as to the cause) was interested in the autoimmune angle. However, my ESR and CRP were normal. I asked about a scan of my head, and he didn't think that was necessary. I was given various drops in the ED which helped immensely and three Rxes to pick up which I have done, partially, today. They help, but the vision in my left eye formerly my "good" eye is not like it was, possibly because one of the medications dilates my left pupil. I will follow up with my normal ophthalmologist soon.

Thanks for reading.

Plumbago

[Wheatwacked]

That is scary. I have poked myself in the eye in my sleep. 

[JillG]

Did the ophthalmologist check for uveitis?  If not and if it happens again, please bring that up. My son has had Celiac since 2014 and in 2020 developed uveitis which is also an autoimmune condition. It is serious if not controlled and his vision was permanently damaged because we didn’t know what it was in time. Uveitis can be mild to severe so please ask about that if it happens to you again. 

[plumbago]

12 hours ago, Wheatwacked said:

That is scary. I have poked myself in the eye in my sleep. 

It was, but being in the ER esp for 12 hours is one circle of hell I do not wanna repeat any time soon. Props to staff there that still remain - real pros and am always appreciative of the polite ways they can find to ask people to wait, because that is what 95% of people do there, wait. You are so bored/frustrated - and it draaaaags out for so long, that it's almost a spiritual challenge. I thought about a lot of things.

I was asked repeatedly about trauma, and as far as I know, none, but would I have known if I poked myself during sleep? I would hope so! ETA: In addition, I would think if there were trauma, that there'd be other evidence of it beyond a little ole arteriole squirting out red blood cells. I did get shampoo in my eye the night before. Hey, I'm just trying to think of everything!

Edited March 28, 2023 by plumbago

[plumbago]

6 hours ago, JillG said:

Did the ophthalmologist check for uveitis?  If not and if it happens again, please bring that up. My son has had Celiac since 2014 and in 2020 developed uveitis which is also an autoimmune condition. It is serious if not controlled and his vision was permanently damaged because we didn’t know what it was in time. Uveitis can be mild to severe so please ask about that if it happens to you again. 

Thanks Jill! The ophtho did a huge range of tests and examinations. Meaning, my eyes were subjected to dilating drops many times as he looked at them through the "slit lamp" many times. He seemed like a knowledgeable professional so if I had uveitis, I feel like he would have spotted it and told me and/or included it on the discharge paperwork. He did mention inflammation but was that the cause of the bleed or the result of the many tests. ? I hope to get definitive answers from my regular ophtho and sort of dread the prospect of not getting them, and the work that would need to ensue after that. We shall see.

[knitty kitty]

@plumbago,

Hope you're feeling better.  

I had an eye problem several years ago.  My left eye had swelling and hemorrhaging.  My ophthalmologist sent me to see specialists at the Helen Keller Institute for the Blind Hospital.  They couldn't figure out what was going on.  I was prescribed a dozen eye drops to take around the clock and some medications, but nothing seemed to work.  More trips to the Institute didn't provide any answers.  Medications were discontinued since they were not helping.  Pretty much told to live with it.   

 A few months later, I started supplementing with high dose thiamine and noticed my eye improving.  My vision improved, the pressure returned to normal.  (I'm at risk for glaucoma, too.)  My pupil is broken and doesn't close properly in bright light so I wear sunglasses at night.

Turns out Thiamine deficiency can cause problems in the eyes like optic nerve head swelling and hemorrhaging.  People with glaucoma have lower thiamine levels.  

Other vitamins important to eye health include B12, Vitamin C and Vitamin A.  Omega threes are important, too.  

Interesting reading....

(Bariatric surgery can cause vitamin malabsorption like occurs in Celiac Disease)

Visual Loss, Retinal Hemorrhages, and Optic Disc Edema Resulting From Thiamine Deficiency Following Bariatric Surgery Complicated by Prolonged Vomiting

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28331457/

And...

Blood levels of thiamine and ascorbic acid in chronic open-angle glaucoma

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/485004/

Hope this helps!

[plumbago]

@knitty kitty

Thanks! I sort of suspected you would recommend thiamine, based on some of your experiences, which makes sense, and honestly, if that's what it is, I gladly say pass the bottle! But I'd like to know for sure I'm deficient, first. And IIRC, testing for that b vitamin isn't the easiest - most b vitamin tests are a bit complicated. Actually, I have done a conventional thiamine test, and it was normal as I recall.

From the link you provided, only the abstract is viewable. I see conflicting studies on this. You found one supportive of the view you hold.  

If there's no real harm in it, I might try it (I supplemented with it some during Covid).

But I'd still like to know the cause or precipitating event. I switched to a full face mask for my OSA and wonder if over time that might have increased the pressure in the eye area.

Plumbago

[knitty kitty]

@plumbago,

I'm thrilled to hear you have tried thiamine!  

Unfortunately, yes, thiamine testing is a bit inaccurate because thiamine gets turned into enzymes that are used within cells and tissues which is not measurable by blood testing.  Even a thiamine rich meal preceding testing can skew blood tests for thiamine.  The Erythrocyte Transketalase test might give you more accurate results.  Not sure if that test is available again after Covid.  

As thiamine is safe and nontoxic even at higher doses, and testing is so inaccurate, the World Health Organization recommends trying thiamine ( minimum of 500 mg/day for several weeks) and looking for improvement.  

I had sleep apnea which cleared up with high dose thiamine.  Thiamine is important in the oxygenation of blood in the lungs.  Thiamine can even improve asthma.  My Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease resolved after supplementing with thiamine.  Neuropathy resolved.  Brain function improved.  I lost weight.  I feel so much better.  I would much rather take a naturally occurring vitamin than expensive pharmaceuticals.  

Yes, I know there's conflicting studies concerning thiamine.  The most definitive proof would be your own health improvements while taking Thiamine. 

Best wishes,

Knitty Kitty

P.S. Just wondering if your need for a full face mask came after you stopped taking Thiamine regularly.

P.P.S.  There are similar articles listed after the abstract, some of which are free articles on PubMed and not behind a paywall.  PubMed even has a search bar.

Edited March 29, 2023 by knitty kitty
Added post script

[plumbago]

4 hours ago, knitty kitty said:

P.S. Just wondering if your need for a full face mask came after you stopped taking Thiamine regularly.

I took thiamine somewhere in 2020 or 2021 but for a few months only. Then I stopped. I started a full face mask much later in December of 2022. Changing to it was mostly a matter of comfort. You wouldn't think so, but the full face mask is/was more comfortable than the nasal wisp. As luck (or something) would have it, my supplier called the other day and I decided to go back to the wisps given my suspicion of the full face mask (which I actually do love). And they've arrived, so I'll think about using it again. I've been without any CPAP ever since Sunday. And going without is not something I'm crazy about.

I also wonder about this. Last week, I had a biopsy taken from a likely squamous cell carcinoma on my face. Could the lidocaine or local numbing agent have increased my intraoccular pressures? Dunno. Was there anything else about that procedure that could have contributed? Dunno. I don't think so, but there is just - so much to consider!

I have tried to get onto sleep apnea sites, but had problems getting to full participation.

Plumbago

[Wheatwacked]

I agree. Lots of thiamine, vitamin A from food like carrots, red leaf lettuce, sweet potato, whole milk, cod liver oil;,  vitamin C.

Dr Pauling was taking 9,000 mg vitamin C a day until he died in his 90's.

Taurine is considered a conditionally essential nutrient. Like choline we can make some but not enough so we have an effecient recycling. 

Taurine  Data suggest that photoreceptors (cone photoreceptors more so than rod photoreceptors) in the retina are extremely sensitive to deficiencies in taurine. Susceptibility to light increases in the setting of taurine deficiency. It has been suggested that taurine deficiency is linked to retinal diseases with photoreceptor degeneration as well as those with retinal ganglion cell loss.Froger 2014

Effects and Mechanisms of Taurine as a Therapeutic Agent  Because taurine is required for normal retinal ganglion cell survival (Froger et al., 2012), it has been proposed that taurine therapy may serve an important role in the prevention of retinal degeneration (Froger et al., 2014).

Quote

 

The scientific literature suggests that taurine has properties that may help to protect and preserve corneal cells from hypertonic stress through osmoregulation, protein and membrane stabilization, antihistamine effects and acting as an antioxidant.This review covers some of the reported functions of taurine that may have relevance for the health and integrity of corneal tissues. https://www.clspectrum.com/issues/2004/april-2004/examining-taurine-s-role-in-ocular-biochemistry-an

 

 

 

 

 

 

[knitty kitty]

There are studies showing high dose Thiamine supplementation can have a detrimental effect on cancer cells, working as well as some anticancer drugs.  

 

B Vitamins and Their Role in Immune Regulation and Cancer

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7693142/