Eyes/eyesight and colorblindness with HRT

[Deanna_Renee]

This may seem a couple of weird questions. First off I haven't started HRT yet (hope to have a good job and insurance to help pay soon - Obama? I'm waiting) so, I don't have any personal experiences.

That said, I was reading some articles about HRT and typical changes that may/may not be expected. I realize that changes are different for everyone and there is no definitive answer, but wondering about personal experiences. Some of what I read about changes in the face include the restructuring of muscle tissue and redistribution of fats. There was also mention of these changes taking place around the eye and the changes in muscle and fat tissues around the eye can change the shape of the eyes. It didn't specify whether it was the external shape (appearance) of the eye or changes in the musculature and fat affecting the pressures exerted on the actual eyeball changing its shape and characteristics. So, I am wondering if anyone, who has likely been on HRT for some time, has noticed any changes in eyesight - better or worse?

I was also wondering, since some 50% of males suffer from some degree of color-blindness (myself included), I am wondering if this condition is more genetic, hormonal, physiological, or psychological? It would be interesting to know if any of you ladies have noticed any changes in color sensitivity, whether you had some degree of color-blindness before HRT and if it has changed any since going on HRT? This is something that is very important to me as I've been a photographer for most of my life and now a graphic designer. I have struggled with color recognition, sensitivity, differentiation and matching for my whole life. Whenever I tell people that I'm somewhat color blind and I'm a designer/photographer they ask how I can function. I would be in heaven if hormones had a positive effect on eyesight and color sensitivity. I have watched so many women in my life as they so easily choose colors and make it look like such a sensual experience when looking at and relating to colors. Just another thing that has always made me envious of GGs.

Thank you so much,

Deanna

[Myself]

eyesight is genetic.

The gene responsible for color blindness is on the X chromosome.
Guys have one X Chromosome, therefore if a XX woman has the gene, she might not be affected by it because she might have a good gene on the other X.

But that also means her XY kids have 50% of getting the color blind gene.

Some women actually see more colors than most people.
It's very rare, but instead of the normal 3 colors which blend to let us preceive reality, sometimes people can see a fourth, purple/violet which blends to a lot more possible colors and shades.
Apparently it might have been orange.

HRT won't change your eyesight but might cause you see things differently or precieve differently.
Post Merge: August 04, 2009, 01:25:42 PM
Found some articles!
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06256/721190-114.stm
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Half-of-the-Women-See-More-Colors-than-the-Rest-of-the-People-58351.shtml

Please keep in mind, the article who says half the women is probably very wrong about the statistics.
Then again, I might be wrong.
Apparently it might happen very rarely that a person with XY chromosomes can see 4 color blends as well, I might try to find reference to it later although it doesn't matter much as the chances is too low to bother with.

[Inanna]

I was meaning to make a topic relating my personal experiences on this, but this works just as good.   

I was also wondering, since some 50% of males suffer from some degree of color-blindness (myself included), I am wondering if this condition is more genetic, hormonal, physiological, or psychological? It would be interesting to know if any of you ladies have noticed any changes in color sensitivity, whether you had some degree of color-blindness before HRT and if it has changed any since going on HRT?
Deanna

The most surprising results of HRT for me have all been senses.  While I knew beforehand that my smell, taste, and touch would benefit from hormones, I wasn't prepared for the overwhelming rush of new sensations.  As the months go by, it just seems to get better, feeling so many new things wherever I go. 

And nothing prepared me for changes in vision, because I assumed it couldn't.  Well let's just say I was wrong... 

About a week ago I was sitting on my porch sorta daydreaming, when the realization hit me, "Omg.. am I going crazy or am I actually picking up more colors now?"  I guess the change was so gradual that I didn't even notice it because I wasn't looking for it.  Anyway, sure enough I took an online color-blindness test and passed (it still wasn't perfectly clear).  A year ago I saw nothing in the same test.

HRT won't change your eyesight but might cause you see things differently or precieve differently.

True.  Yet just remember colors are created in the mind, not the eye itself.  Most color-blindness is a weakness of a color not an absence of it (red or green usually).  Hormones have wide-reaching neurological and psychological effects, so it's possible to become more attuned to colors you may be weak in.  That's all I can figure with me.

[Deanna_Renee]

Inanna,

Thank you for this great news. I had wondered, since I know that for me, I am able to see a full range of color, I just have difficulty identifying and differentiating between tones, shades and tints of colors - predominately red/green. It had been a suspicion of mine that much of the task of color recognition is given to the brain, while the mechanics of color registration takes place in the receptors of the eye.

This is where my question as to whether hormones would have influence on the perception areas of the brain. It made sense to me that since women tend to be more receptive to color than men, that the ability to judge color takes place in the brain and therefore would presumably be either psychological or physiological, both of which may be influenced by hormones.

It would be interesting if there was any scientific research done on color-blindness influenced by transsexual hormone replacement therapy? I'd love to take part in that research (paid test subject anyone?).

I am now a bit more optimistic - anyone else have similar experiences?

Deanna

[Myself]

Thinking about it, I remember hearing estrogen on mtf will affect the color and texture.
Wiki says "The lens of the eyes changes in curvature." but I am not sure if it is true.
My eyes used to be really brown and I think have gotten lighter nowdays, might be due to estrogen, might even not be true.

Although research is not yet conclusive, studies suggest that rapid change in estrogen levels, as well as high and low levels of estrogen, may affect the eye differently. Currently, more research is being conducted to define and treat these vision problems unique to women.
       Finally, a note to women taking estrogen supplements: According to a study by the national Eye Institute, women who took estrogen supplements for at least 10 years after menopause were less likely to have cataracts.

from: http://www.sightandhearing.org/sightcenter/women.asp

Estrogen After Menopause Improves Eye Health:
http://www.webmd.com/news/20010613/estrogen-after-menopause-improves-eye-health

Estrogen Benefits The Eyes, Study Shows:
http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/1997/A/199700004.html

Last:
http://www.agingeye.net/journalarchive/review.php

Still, none of them refers to eye sight it self and I couldn't find one article about the eye, estrogen and men.

This might have something the other links didn't:
http://www.iovs.org/cgi/reprint/40/9/1906.pdf

[Cindy]

Just to be hopless

I had a male taxi (cab) driver the other day, stopped at every green light and drove through reds. Wish he was on HRT.


And yes colour blindness is genetic, doesn't matter how fat or muscles change etc, you simply do not have the receptors to see that colour. Yes you may get heightened perceptions on HRT, but you will not get changes in genetics.

But you will feel a hell of a lot better. Sorry feeling frisky, first time for ages.

Cindy

[LordKAT]

Friskeh!!!! Come on Cindy

Good to know someone is since i'm getting up for work and only 1 hour sleep.

[Cindy]

Soorry Lord kat

I'm about to go to bed, well after reading a book. It'e 8pm in Australia, you have a good day dude, a few things to help you through
Luv

Cindy

[Renate]

Well, I'm not sure that this is related, but I have clearly had objective changes in my eyes.
The issue of whether I perceive, sense or remember color differently is more subjective.

Before when I laid my head down and closed my eyes for sleep, I "saw" the same thing that most people probably see.
That is, a brownish-black whirl of unfocused "noise" of the eye recalibrating itself.

Now when I close my eyes I often see in addition a "firework" of bright, tiny flickering pinpoints of an intense blue/violet light.
This display last for 5 to 10 seconds, eventually flickering out.

I do not claim that I am a "tetrachromat" or that this phenomena is related.
I am clear however that my experienced phenomenon is definite and that it came about after HRT.

Has anybody had anything similar?

[Genevieve Swann]

Most all eyesight problems are genetic. Some other health problems effect eyesight later in life. Blood pressure has a great effect on vision and can even cause blindness. HRT may not effect eyesight directly but changes in  personal health may.  Here is a bit of trivia: The man who created most of the colors for Crayola Crayons was color blind and they did not know until he took his retirement physical.

[Dana Lane]

I have been doing some level of HRT over the last several months and my eyesight got worse. Most of my life I had 20/15 vision but then all of a sudden I need to wear reading glasses when looking at small text.  I am guessing the curvature of the lens on my eye is changing.  Not sure if it will end up in a naturally (kinda sorta) corrected status but time will tell. And I absolutely adore the rest of the features of HRT.