Some people with Parkinson's disease (PD) experience vision issues, such as trouble reading, double vision, or dry eyes. Here are some resources to understand how PD affects the eyes and what can be done.
Downloadable Documents | Online Articles | Podcasts & Webinars | Expert-level Resources
Eyes and Parkinson’s
Published by Parkinson’s UK, July 2020
This 9-page information sheet (PDF) looks at the difficulties some people with Parkinson’s can experience with their sight. It looks at the range of symptoms that can affect eyesight, the causes of these problems, available treatment and advice on eye care.
6 Things to Know about Parkinson's and Vision
By Daniel Gold, DO, and Ali G. Hamedani, MD MHS. Published by the Davis Phinney Foundation, August 21, 2021
This article explores Parkinson’s and vision, including common visual problems and how to get the care you need to manage visual symptoms.
Ask the MD: Vision and Parkinson’s Disease
By Rachel Dolhun, MD. Published by the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Foxfeed Blog, October 27, 2015
This webpage explains the visual problems that are due to Parkinson’s disease, the medications used to treat it, or to unrelated conditions of the eye or eyelid. If you have visual problems, don’t assume it is due to either aging or Parkinson’s. Address it with your doctor to maintain your ability to read, drive, and walk steadily to reduce your risk of falling.
Eye & Vision Issues
By Dr. Andrew Berman. Published by the American Parkinson Disease Association
This single page resource defines neuro-ophthalmologist and common ophthalmic complaints in Parkinson’s disease. It explains how Parkinson’s disease affects three fundamental types of eye movements, and contributes to external eye disease and sensory deficits. Finally there is a brief discussion of managing these ophthalmic issues.
Guide to Vision Issues in Parkinson’s: Symptoms & Treatments
Published by Parkinson's Community Los Angeles, July 13, 2023
This article provides an overview of the most common causes, symptoms, and treatments for visual problems in Parkinson’s disease. It begins with a background in the primary types of eye movement and how Parkinson's impact on eye movements affects reading and causes double vision. Also included is a link to the PCLA webinar, "A Closer Look: Eye Issues With Parkinson's."
How can Parkinson's disease affect vision?
Published by Medical News Today, September 29, 2022
This article provides an overview of PD and its associated vision changes. It also covers the symptoms, causes, treatment, and management of PD-related vision changes.
How to Spot Parkinson’s Vision Changes
Published by the Parkinson's Foundation, February 15, 2022
This webpage identifies 5 visual symptoms common to people with PD, how they affect every day life, and some tips for managing these issues. The uncommon condition of blepharospasm or eyelid-opening apraxia (involuntary closure of the eyes) is included, also with tips for keeping the eyes open.
Smell and Vision Difficulties
Published by Parkinson’s Victoria
Only two paragraphs about the loss of smell in Parkinson’s precede nearly a dozen eye problems and vision difficulties for people with Parkinson’s and useful tips for coping with them. Of note is a paragraph suggesting that those with glaucoma may have problems with anticholinergic medication and levodopa.
Vision: More than Meets the EYE! Tricks to Aid PD Patients
By Maria De León, MD. Published by defeatparkinsons.com, August 9, 2015
Retired neurologist and young onset Parkinson’s patient, Dr. Maria De León reminds us that vision is integral to our quality of life and safety, especially with respect to driving. She lists 11 common eye problems with PD, and a few uncommon ones. They may be helped by adjusting medications, with special lenses, or artificial tears. See your doctor to find out.
Vision Changes
Published by the Parkinson's Foundation
This webpage identifies six common difficulties with the eyes associated with PD and aging. The webpage offers tips for managing these issues. The uncommon condition of blepharospasm (involuntary closure of the eyes) is addressed along with several potential causes (not related to Parkinson's) and a bit about the botulinum toxin (Botox) injections that treat it.
A Closer Look: Eye Issues in Parkinson's
By Parkinson's Community Los Angeles, June 16, 2023
In this one-hour webinar, neuro-ophthalmologist Alexander M. Solomon, MD, discusses dry eye, double vision, difficulty reading, depth perception, driving issues, hallucinations, and contrast & color. Along the way he offers compensation strategies and treatment options.
Eye Health and Parkinson's
By the Parkinson Society BC, Apr 7, 2022
In this 84-minute webinar, neuro-ophthalmologist Jason Barton, MD, discusses common eye conditions that may develop with PD, as well as PD medications that can impact ocular health. He explains why changes in vision occur in PD, and how Parkinson’s-related eye issues may be treated to improve the quality of life for people with PD. Coping tools that can be received through access to professional eye care will also be discussed.
My Parkinson's Story: Visual Disturbances
By the Veteran's Administration
This 6-minute video alternates between an interview with a man and and doctors. The man shares his vision changes due to Parkinson's disease. The doctors explain that the muscles of the eyes develop a tremor in those with Parkinson's disease, causing blurry vision. Parkinson's medication reduces eye tremors by 75-90%, but eye exercises and reading are also beneficial.
Seeing Clearly with PD: Vision Changes
By the Parkinson's Foundation, March 5, 2019
In this 1-hour webinar, neuro-ophthalmologist Dan Gold discusses the most common vision conditions in PD, which negatively impact daily function and quality of life, why they occur, and how to address or treat them.
Sights, Sounds and Parkinson's
By the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, 2021
In this hour-long webinar, neuro-ophthalmologist Ali G. Hamedani, MD, discusses how changes in vision, hearing, taste, and smell impact people with Parkinson’s and how to cope with these changes.
Vision Changes and Parkinson's Disease
By the American Parkinson Disease Association, October 31 2024
In this 51-minute webinar neuro ophthalmologist Janet Rucker, MD, discusses the common but often under-discussed eye-related non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s disease. These changes can include eye movement problems, dry eyes, visual hallucinations, and more.
Vision Problems in Parkinson's Disease
By the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Foxfeed Blog, April 24, 2019
This one-hour webinar expert panelists discuss changes in eyesight associated with Parkinson's as well as the effects of other symptoms and medications on vision. Also covered is how scientists are looking at the eye as a source of tests to diagnose the disease in its earliest stages.
Ocular and Visual Disorders in Parkinson’s Disease: Common but Frequently Overlooked
By Merel S. Ekker, et. al. Published by Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, July 2017
This literature search covering 50 years reviews the range of ocular and visual disorders in patients with PD and classifies these according to anatomical structures of the visual pathway. It discusses six common disorders in more detail, reviews the effects of PD-related pharmacological and surgical treatments on visual function, and offers practical recommendations for clinical management.
Ocular Motor and Sensory Function in Parkinson Disease
By Zina Almer, et. al. Ophthalmology, January 2012
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of dopaminergic medication and deep brain stimulation on ocular function in Parkinson Disease (PD) and to measure vision-elated quality of life in subjects with PD. The conclusion is that convergence ability is significantly poorer in PD subjects in both “on” and “off” states compared with controls, but significantly improves with systemic dopaminergic treatment. Ocular motor function in PD subjects fluctuates in response to treatment, which complicates ophthalmic management. PD subjects have a significant reduction in vision-related quality of life, especially near activities, that it not associated with visual acuity.
Transient Daily Episodes of Vision Loss Due to Parkinson’s Disease
By Victoria S Pelak and Brian D Berman. Published by Neuro Ophthalmology, July 20, 2018
This paper reports on a patient with recurrent daily episodes of transient and disabling visual loss due to PD-related non-motor fluctuation. During his ophthalmoloty appointment, he experienced one such episode, which allowed for close observation and examination during and after the visual loss. Implications for localization of the visual loss are reviewed in the context of visual pathway disturbances in PD.
Visual Disturbances in Parkinson’s Disease
By Carlijn D.J.M. Borm, MD, et.al. Published by Neurology, April 7, 2020
Patients with PD have a higher prevalence of ophthalmologic symptoms than controls. Moreover, these frequently interfere with daily activities. A screening questionnaire such as the VIPD-Q may help with identifying ophthalmologic symptoms in PD, thereby enabling more timely treatment.
Visual Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease
By R. A. Armstrong. Parkinson’s Disease, May 25, 2011
An overview of visual problems likely to be encountered in PD. If visual problems are present, they can have an important effect on the quality of life of the patient, which can be improved by accurate diagnosis and where possible, correction of such defects.
Last updated February 2025 by Stanford Parkinson's Community Outreach.
