Hi everyone

I was hoping I might find someone who could give me a little advice? It's a long story (I'm sorry) but I need to explain...

I started having problems with my vision in August 2012, I woke up one day with a “camera flash effect”, like someone had taken my picture with a flash and I was left with a “spot” in my vision. I was also having flashes and floaters in my eye. It only affected one eye, but unfortunately several years ago I had to have a corneal graft which left me with not so great vision in one of my eyes – and the eye affected was my “good” eye.

When I first noticed the problems, I would wake up feeling like I had been rolling my eyes up too far in my head. I was worried that this moight have caused the problem but I’m told it hasn’t.

I saw my GP, my optician (checked prescription as I am very short-sighted and checked for retinal detachment, asked for computer glasses but was told I don’t need them), I was seen at the hospital several times by an ophthalmologist (dilated pupils, couldn’t see anything wrong), saw my ophthalmologist who did the corneal graft (checked for loss of colour in vision, that was fine, and also did a field vision test, fine), saw a neurologist who sent me for an MRI scan, came back clear, and finally saw an optical neurologist who came to the conclusion that I PROBABLY have optical neuritis.

He told me that if it was going to clear up, it would have by now. I am a white 30 year old female which is apparently the common factors for getting this condition (lucky me!).

My problem now is that I am really struggling at work. I work in accounting so my day consists of sitting at a computer looking at spreadsheets etc 8 hours a day. Obviously I do take breaks, but it’s really getting me down as I struggle to see the text on the screen unless my nose is nearly touching the screen! I have constant headaches and tenderness around my eyes; the words on the screen seem to “fade” if I look straight at them, although if I look around them I can make them out.

I have been on allergy medication since I was 16, a nasal spray and eye drops. I use a steroid eye drop (Maxidex) in the eye that had the graft, and for about 9 months I was on Citalopram for post natal depression. I was concerned that perhaps any of these meds might have caused this?
Upon Googling this condition, I have discovered it can be linked to MS. This terrifies me, but I would have thought that if I had signs of MS it would have shown up on the MRI brain scan?

I just feel really isolated in this, I’ve never heard of it before, I don’t know anyone who has it, there’s no family history. I have spoken to HR about this and they are going to do a little research and see how they can help me.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can make my work life a bit easier?

Hi Bella,

If you have a PC with windows7 or later, there's 2 options available, one to make screen and text larger and one where the computer will read aloud to you wherever your mouse is (you can use headphones so not to distract co-workers)
These features may also be on other operating systems or Macs...

You can find them by going to start>control panel>ease of access

They're not perfect but may help a little,

Brian

Welcome to the NeuroTalk Support Groups.

Just so you know, as well as trying Brian's tips, the TBI/PCS Forum has a lot of older posts regarding ways of generally making the screen easier to view.

I would also post for suggestions on the MS Forum considering the nature of your questions.

I remember there are more posts about this issue on this Computer forum as well.

Just one example from TBI/PCS Forum...

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post950977-3.html

Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome Forum

Multiple Sclerosis Forum

[There is a search feature near the top of the main forum page and there's also a search feature on each separate forum. Works on keywords. e.g. I used "computer screen". Need any help with that, just post back.]

To: Bella, all the suggestions that were given from forum members are great!!! I thought of one or two other things, as well.

First, your employer might cover any further medical testing your condition may require. As you said, your HR dept are lookin' into stuff for you.
Second, if your physician comes to a final diagnosis, whatever it is, you might get ahold of whatever foundation that supports that disorder or disease and see how they can provide some support to you. I am certain whatever foundation you need, will help you in any way they can.