Eye symptoms and signs in Parkinson’s disease: Are we asking about them enough?


By Dr Savithri Gunasekera, Consultant in Elderly Medicine and General Medicine, Musgrove Park Hospital

October 2012

Background

  • Commonly reported eye problems in patients with Parkinson’s
    disease:
    – Blurred vision
    – Double vision
    – Excessive watering
    – Dry eyes
    – Involuntary closure of eye lids (blepharospasm)
    – Hallucinations and illusions
    – Problems with colour vision
    – Problems with seeing movement (underestimate the speed of moving
    objects)
    – Problems with visuospatial orientation
  • They become more common as Parkinson’s progresses.
  • May affect a patient’s ability to navigate traffic when driving.
Eye symptoms and signs in Parkinson’s disease: Are we asking about them enough?

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'The things you can't get from the books'

Parkinson's Academy, our original and longest running Academy, houses 20 years of inspirational projects, resources, and evidence for improving outcomes for people with Parkinson's. Led by co-founder and educational director Dr Peter Fletcher, the Academy has a truly collegiate feel and prides itself on delivering 'the things you can't get from books' - a practical learning model which inspires all Neurology Academy courses.