[BellaBows]

Basically, i was told I probably have optic neuritis. However I don’t really have many of the symptoms - no colour blindness, pain when moving eyes, etc.
The only symptom I have is a “camera flash” effect in one eye, and my eyes often feel stressed/tired/tender with a headache.

If anyone can offer any help, please do

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?

[mrsD]

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

I guess you can try to rule out other things.

Optic neuritis is a sign of low B12 levels. So it would be a good idea to get tested. Get your results too, don't accept "normal" because US labs still report lows as "normal". The new normal cutoff now for the past decade is 400.
In other countries this result is reported in different units...so when you get your result bring it to me and I'll convert if necessary.

If this started AFTER the birth of a child, I'd also increase Omega-3's in the diet. Having a baby really depletes the mother of these essential fats, because they go to the fetus and its developing brain, leaving the mother short. Low Omega-3 status can affect nerves too. Fish oil, is a supplement you can use 2 or 3 a day with food, or increase fatty fish in your diet, and eat flaxoil or flaxseeds that are ground up.
Also if you are low in magnesium the blood vessels in the eye can spasm and give symptoms. Foods rich in magnesium are almonds, beans, and yogurt. Don't purchase magnesium OXIDE however, as that is not absorbed. Get a chelated type like citrate, gluconate, lactate, etc.

These are two things you can do yourself. If your B12 IS low,
I can suggest how you can fix it...you don't necessarily need injections. Oral can work well if done correctly.

After these two things, other medical testing can be done.