St. John's Wort - affect anyone's eyesight?

[guptasa1]

Hey all,

 

I started taking St. John's Wort as a mood enhancer not too long ago (less than a week), and over Thanksgiving have noticed some visual problems, especially in my right eye. At first I thought my glasses were scratched (they are a bit in the corner), but I've since realized it's actually little floater-type dark spots I can see with my eye itself (and they don't move much - always are relatively in the same place), and that's freaking me out a little bit. It's especially noticeable and a tad distracting when reading. I've since stopped taking the St. John's Wort as of yesterday, thinking that may be the cause. (I also take a general vitamin, a skin supplement, and a metabolism enhancer, but the St. John's Wort was the only really new thing and I know it can cause increased sensitivity to light vision-wise, and given it's proximity to this, that's why I thought it might be related).

 

Anyone have any ideas or experiences with St. John's Wort affecting vision? I'm a little freaked out - if it keeps up, definitely going to see an eye doctor.

 

Thanks,

Shaun

[Guest showme43]

any time you have floaters it is my understanding it is advisable you see a doctor......

[Guest showme43]

any time you have floaters it is my understanding it is advisable you see a doctor......

[guptasa1]

Think maybe I'll make an appointment tomorrow if it's not a lot better. (Seems a little better tonight, but could be my imagination - still very much there though).

[guptasa1]

Think maybe I'll make an appointment tomorrow if it's not a lot better. (Seems a little better tonight, but could be my imagination - still very much there though).

[guptasa1]

Thanks by the way.

[guptasa1]

Thanks by the way.

[theDCeBOY]

see a dr, punkin.

[theDCeBOY]

see a dr, punkin.

[Guest pyell]

I understand that St John's Wort is a mild natural anti depressant, chemically similar to some of the more familiar drugs that encourage seratonin in the brain. With larger doses of the prescription antidepressants, you can get strange things called seratonin syndrome in which the brain reacts to the chemicals rather badly. One patient described it as "like having a high pressure hose in your head", and it can be quite scary. It is remotely possible that if you've been taking a lot of it and your brain doesn't react well to increased seratonin, you might be having the early symptoms of a seratonin syndrome.

[Guest pyell]

I understand that St John's Wort is a mild natural anti depressant, chemically similar to some of the more familiar drugs that encourage seratonin in the brain. With larger doses of the prescription antidepressants, you can get strange things called seratonin syndrome in which the brain reacts to the chemicals rather badly. One patient described it as "like having a high pressure hose in your head", and it can be quite scary. It is remotely possible that if you've been taking a lot of it and your brain doesn't react well to increased seratonin, you might be having the early symptoms of a seratonin syndrome.

[Luv2play]

My advice would be to see an eye doctor (opthamologist) IMMEDIATELY. What you are describing is a symptom of a detached retina. Any black spot that does not move can indicate that the retina has become detached. A partial detachment can be fixed relatively easily with a laser operation or other techniques. Failure to act quickly can result in further tearing of the retina and if it pulls away from the optic nerve, you will experience total blindness in that eye. And the repair job will be MUCH trickier.

 

I am speaking from experience. When my doctor discovered I had a partial detached retina, I was in the hospital that afternoon and operated on the next morning. It was treated as an emergency. In the meantime, before you see a doctor, avoid lifting anything heavy (this increases internal pressure in the eye) and avoid jerking your head in sudden movements. If you value your eyesight, get to a doctor (or emergency ward of a hospital) ASAP. And GOOD LUCK.

[Luv2play]

My advice would be to see an eye doctor (opthamologist) IMMEDIATELY. What you are describing is a symptom of a detached retina. Any black spot that does not move can indicate that the retina has become detached. A partial detachment can be fixed relatively easily with a laser operation or other techniques. Failure to act quickly can result in further tearing of the retina and if it pulls away from the optic nerve, you will experience total blindness in that eye. And the repair job will be MUCH trickier.

 

I am speaking from experience. When my doctor discovered I had a partial detached retina, I was in the hospital that afternoon and operated on the next morning. It was treated as an emergency. In the meantime, before you see a doctor, avoid lifting anything heavy (this increases internal pressure in the eye) and avoid jerking your head in sudden movements. If you value your eyesight, get to a doctor (or emergency ward of a hospital) ASAP. And GOOD LUCK.

[guptasa1]

Yikes - this is scarin' me. I have an eye appointment Wednesday morning. Do you think that's soon enough, or should I try to set up a sooner appointment? (It's about the same today or so it seems - no worse, but no better either. The black spots I mention are VERY, very small, but still there nonetheless.)

[guptasa1]

Yikes - this is scarin' me. I have an eye appointment Wednesday morning. Do you think that's soon enough, or should I try to set up a sooner appointment? (It's about the same today or so it seems - no worse, but no better either. The black spots I mention are VERY, very small, but still there nonetheless.)

[guptasa1]

Just as a further update, called the optometrist, and they're booked solid today, so they don't want to see me until Wednesday unless something gets drastically worse. (And furthermore, now I'm wondering with the lifting thing if I should exercise today...guess not to be on the safe side).

[guptasa1]

Just as a further update, called the optometrist, and they're booked solid today, so they don't want to see me until Wednesday unless something gets drastically worse. (And furthermore, now I'm wondering with the lifting thing if I should exercise today...guess not to be on the safe side).

[Guest bighugbearphx]

Had the same symptoms ... a large "floater" that doesn't float.

 

While this can be a sign of a detached retina (in which case it is usually accompanied by flashes of light, but not always), my guess is that your diagnosis will be the same as mine: the medication (In my case, an OTC cold medication that has been taken off the market due to such problems) increased pressure in your brain which caused a slight "bleed" into your eye to relieve it. It's essentially a thin string of congealed blood attached to the back of the eye, which could dissipate somewhat over time (mine did) but likely won't ever go away. You adjust to it over time, and only notice it is there if you are looking for it. Obviously, I'd hold off on the St John's Wort, and anything that can increase blood pressure, until your doctor tells you otherwise.

 

Good luck.

[Guest bighugbearphx]

Had the same symptoms ... a large "floater" that doesn't float.

 

While this can be a sign of a detached retina (in which case it is usually accompanied by flashes of light, but not always), my guess is that your diagnosis will be the same as mine: the medication (In my case, an OTC cold medication that has been taken off the market due to such problems) increased pressure in your brain which caused a slight "bleed" into your eye to relieve it. It's essentially a thin string of congealed blood attached to the back of the eye, which could dissipate somewhat over time (mine did) but likely won't ever go away. You adjust to it over time, and only notice it is there if you are looking for it. Obviously, I'd hold off on the St John's Wort, and anything that can increase blood pressure, until your doctor tells you otherwise.

 

Good luck.

[guptasa1]

No flashes of light (though I do seem to be sensitive to brightness). Ugh - I certainly hope it dissipates completely if that is the case. Makes some sense with what others said, and it's certainly consistent with what another person said above about the St. John's. My eyes do feel a bit tired at the moment (and I just woke up not all that long ago). *sigh* I'm really anxious to get this solved.

 

Thanks for all the feedback, guys. Eye problems are frightening. (And, less seriously but still of concern, I'm planning to go away in two weekends, so I definitely want to be AOK by then.)

[guptasa1]

No flashes of light (though I do seem to be sensitive to brightness). Ugh - I certainly hope it dissipates completely if that is the case. Makes some sense with what others said, and it's certainly consistent with what another person said above about the St. John's. My eyes do feel a bit tired at the moment (and I just woke up not all that long ago). *sigh* I'm really anxious to get this solved.

 

Thanks for all the feedback, guys. Eye problems are frightening. (And, less seriously but still of concern, I'm planning to go away in two weekends, so I definitely want to be AOK by then.)

[Luv2play]

If you can get in to see an optometrist by Wednesday, then take it easy until you get a clear bill of health. I suggested an opthamologist because that is whom you will be referred to if you do have a detached retina or other internal problem of the eye. If you went to an emergency ward of a hospital, an opthamologist would examine you. But I expect an optometrist will at least be able to diagnose the problem if it exists. And avoid the gym, any strenuous exercise can increase the blood pressure in your eye, which will complicate the situation if you already have a problem. Good luck and let us know how it turns out. I will be thinking of you.

[theDCeBOY]

i think you should avoid the gym or anything strenuous until you've seen the doctor. but, TRY not to worry yourself to death. just take it very easy for a couple of days. be sure to let us know what you find out on wednesday.

[Guest moonshadow]

As someone who suffers from chronic depression and has tried EVERYTHING, chuck the wort and see a shrink. SJW has some of the properties of a MAOI with few of the benefits. Some recent studies show that SJW is far less effefctive than originally thought.x(

[guptasa1]

Yeah - not taking the SJW anymore for sure. Bad idea.

 

Thanks so much for all the support and warm comments guys. I'll do as suggested and take it easy, at least as far as not going to the gym, etc., until I know I'm okay. I'll also try not to worry myself to death - lol.

 

If it gets any worse, I'll go to the hospital - otherwise, Wednesday morning should be alright. Spots don't seem to be increasing in size or anything, but my eye does feel a bit sore (it doesn't look odd looking at it in a mirror though).

 

I may have misspoken as far as who I'm seeing. LOL. He is an eye doctor, but not a surgeon (though there's a surgeon there) - I'm more comfortable with him since I've seen him before. I'm not sure if you can be an opthamologist and not a surgeon or not, but he may be more than an optometrist.