With the rising prevalence of Parkinson’s disease in India, increasing awareness about this relatively lesser-known condition is essential. Parkinson’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder of motility caused by decreased levels of dopamine production in the brain. It progresses and worsens over time, leading to movement disorders, tremors, rigidity, slowness of movements and balance issues. Although there is no known cure, the disease can be managed well owing to the availability of highly effective treatments.
Not only does Parkinson’s affect the body, but it also has a significant impact on the eyes, affecting the quality of life of these patients significantly. It is therefore important to watch out for and identify the signs at an earlier stage in order to effectively manage them before it is too late.
How Parkinson's affects eyes
The most common issue faced by patients with Parkinson’s disease is dry eyes. This is related to a significantly decreased blink rate and reduced tear production. These patients exhibit a characteristic, rigid, or mask-like facial appearance and reduced automatic blinking, resulting in dryness of the ocular surface. This causes symptoms such as redness, itching, burning, foreign body sensation and light sensitivity. In rare cases, this may lead to severe dryness or corneal infections, which can be potentially sight-threatening.
Patients need to be encouraged to blink consciously and use artificial tears to lubricate the eyes. Some may even benefit from Botox injections. Screen time and use of gadgets should be limited to decrease dryness.
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Parkinson’s disease may impact eye muscle movement, leading to double vision or blurry vision. This can cause confusion, imbalance and inability to focus on objects. When combined with existing gait instability and movement disorders, these issues may increase the risk of falls and injuries. Hence, it is important to address this appropriately. This can be managed by means of eye exercises, using special prism glasses or an eye patch.
Patients may also notice changes in colour vision and reduced contrast sensitivity. This can make it difficult to perceive depth and to distinguish objects from their surroundings. Improving lighting and contrast in the patient’s home environment can be beneficial. In rare cases, patients may experience visual hallucinations, such as seeing images or shadows that are not present. These should be medically evaluated. In addition, they can still develop other common eye conditions such as cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, further contributing to visual impairment.
How to prevent the impact on the eyes
It is always advisable to anticipate these eye problems in patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and manage them in a timely manner.
Regular eye check-ups with an ophthalmologist are essential to maintain eye health and detect and treat eye problems early. A coordinated approach between the ophthalmologist and neurologist allows for appropriate adjustment of the medications based on symptoms. With the proper care and attention, people with Parkinson’s disease can maintain good vision and overall eye health, improving their quality of life significantly.
By Dr. Minal Kanhere is a consultant cornea, cataract and refractive surgeon at Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, Chembur.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.