High cholesterol- will statins help blurry vision?

[Anonymousemouses]

I had a blood test over a year ago. I was worried that my cholesterol was high, but the GP spoke to me as both my CRP and ESR were high, he said that my cholesterol was normal and that my HDL cholesterol was good.

My results were : serum cholesterol 7.1
serum HDL 2
cholesterol/HDL ratio 3.6
se non HDL cholesterol 5.1

I've been phoned by someone else in the GP surgery as they were looking though patient notes and saw my cholesterol is high and I need to take statins. I've been given atorvastatin, but haven't taken it yet due to being a bit worried by the side effects.

Since the last blood test I've been eating low fat anyway. Although my cholesterol was slightly raised even 12 years ago when I was very slim and didn't eat fat.

My eyes are increasingly blurry now. I have reading glasses and they don't help, as it's not the distance/nearness that's the problem, it's that everything is blurred. I have an eye test booked for week after next.

I'm guessing the cholesterol may make my eyes blurry, but am scared to take the statin. I'm having another blood test in three months, so don't know whether to wait until then.

I have taken Atorvastatin for over four years now with no symptoms. It cut my cholesterol down from 5.2 to 3.4.

First step is make an appt with optician

I think there is a bit government push on at the moment to invite people to take statins. Both the surgeries in my town are ringing people up and suggesting statins would be a good idea. I said no thank you

DH and I are on Atorvastatin and it has no side-effects for either of us.

Might be worth getting tested for diabetes as that can affect eyes. Fingers crossed everything is fine 🙂

Read 'The Dark Side of Statins' by Dr. Duane Graveline, or 'A Statin Nation' by Dr. Malcolm Kendrick. Then see if you still want to take them.

Have you had your thyroid function tested? If your thyroid is out of whack (not uncommon in women) it affects cholesterol. Some thyroid issues cause problems with eyes, too.

You might be really worrying about nothing here. My vision gets blurry when my glasses prescription needs to be updated. I think it’s because I’ve got a astigmatism.

I avoided statins for ages because of the anticipated side effects.Diet and exercise did lower the "bad" cholesterol a bit, but I was still on the high side of normal. I have high blood pressure (controlled by tablets) and after some mystery chest pain, diagnosed as some age related narrowing of the arteries, was advised that statins and low dose aspirin are the way to go alongside the amlodipine for high blood pressure. Happy to report no side effects at all, save for a little thigh soreness (like overdoing it in the gym) for the first few days, nothing since. And doctor is happy with my blood test results.

I'd also point out that the rotten familial medical history came from my Mums side of the family. She ate and exercised exactly the same as my Dad, but she had heart problems and high cholesterol, he did not. The conclusion is there that was something in her medical make up that perhaps caused her to make too much cholesterol, and it's not in his.

Have you had an eye test?

Have you had your BP checked? And hba1c (for diabetes)?
And yes, get an eye test.
These are all more likely to cause blurry vision than high cholesterol.

Thanks for the replies, sorry for taking so long to reply, been packing.

Yes my hba1c was checked at the same time and is normal , as was thyroids(which was tested quite recently due to previously taking Lithium). I'm surprised at the hba1c as both my younger siblings got type 2 diabetes in their 20s, my dad in his 30s, I'm in my mid 50s and (touch wood), seems OK so far.

I have an appointment for week after next, when we get back home.

Thanks again.