Hi all,

Can you share what problems you have had with your eyesight that is related to your MS? i have seen a couple people post that they had temporary blindness, but i was wondering what other effects might be.

the last couple days, my left eye has been fairly blurry so i'm wondering if this is something brought on by my MS. i am currently in a flare up that has lasted since the beginning of august, and the only treatment i have received is pain mgmt with oxycodone and neurotin.

thanks for your input

mike
diagnosed august 2010

I think you need a new Doc/Neuro, Mike. If you are in a flare, it could be Optical Neuritis. Do you have an Optho or Neuro/Opth? You should be getting some kind of treatment. IVSM(intravenous SaluMedrol)Steroids.

Make some noise, Mike..

thanks sally, i have been attempting to get into the barrow neurological MS clinic for a month now. I was seeing my neuro for injuries from a fall when i got diagnosed. he seemed to not want to work with me regarding the ms so he referred me to barrow but its been a nightmare trying to get in. coupled with insurance changes last month its been highly stressful and frustrating

I've had optic neuritis at least twice. (maybe 3 times, but all I had was pain for that third time. No obvious vision problem except that it hurt like crazy)

First time I had it, it was my first real clue that I had MS. (the numb hip that I'd had for 6 months that I complained about to the doctors 3 months before was basically ignored)

That first time, I had a big scotoma (blind spot) in my left eye. It obscured about 2/3rds of my vision in that eye, and also affected my color vision. Took about 3 or 4 months for the scotoma to go away, but I had dim vision and screwed up color vision for about a year or a little longer.

My eye recovered to about 95% of what it was. I can tell there's some residual problems. Eyes dont track as quickly as they used to. I didnt have any IV steroids for that. I just waited it out.

The summer of 2009, I had another blast of optic neuritis. This time I had double vision...which was really more horrible than being half blind. Again, it was the left eye that was picking on me. I pretty much insisted on the IV steroids for that. Took about a month for the double vision to start to clear up. I had problems with the double vision coming back if I was tired, and if I looked to the side I'd get it.

I still get a little double vision if I look to the right without moving my head. But right now, I'm pretty happy with my vision.

It sucks to wait for things to clear up tho. You get to a point where you think it'll never get any better and that you're stuck with it. It really does feel like it takes forever. One of these days, I know I'll have another flare that wont improve. I'm hoping that's 3 or 4 decades away tho.

The flair that earned me my MS dx was a severe bout of double vision. It took about six months to correct itself. Several years later I had Optic Neuritis in my left eye. It hurt and affected my vision. As soon as that cleared up (about 4 weeks) I had it in my right eye. It wasn't as severe and didn't last as long in the right eye.

I won't take IVSM (too hard on the bones) so I usually just wait it out. I take LDN and I believe that helps tremendously in quick recovery and little to no residual damage.

Hi Mike.....I too had optic neuritis back in the "dark ages" -- 1976 and again about a year later. In hindsight, it was the beginning of my MS, but didn't get the official diagnosis until 1990. When the ON was active, I had a blind spot eliminating my peripheral vision. Had a wicked pain over my eye and it was painful to move my eyeball. Eventually this all cleared up.

Now, 34 years later, my vision is quite blurry, especially when I'm tired or the MS is flaring. I have pain behind my eyes if I have to look straight up and severe dizziness if I move my eyes too quickly. Perhaps your flare is causing your eye problem too?? As others have said, find a new neurologist asap.

Take care......

There is very good information regarding ON and steroids in the Optic Neuritis Treatment trial. Worth researching!

I've never had Optic Neuritis, however since the summer of 2007 (when my major, major relapse was in full swing) I woke up to blurry/doubled vision. Noticed as soon as I turned on the TV and sat down to watch the weather channel. I couldn't read the bottom line anymore!

2 rounds of IVSM since.. I'm fairly certain I'll remain with the double vision until I see the eye specialist or maybe (cross fingers) find the right med or procedure.

Yes, vision issues are a very common MS symptom.

Try getting a new prescription for eyeglasses (progressives no less!) when your eyes are different every day. I have to take my new glasses back and try again. . . .

That's what I'm concerned will happen, and I don't believe my supplementary insurance will cover multiple pairs of glasses in 1 year.

Some days I can go without, others my vision's so blurry everything's a haze at range. A constant though is my inability to see at distance words and details, I can only manage shapes usually.

I've become quite adept at remembering who's who around work based on their shape (body frame, height) and the colors they're wearing once I've seen them close up for the day. It's discouraging, but I'm mustering through. I'll see the eye doc in December to see what she has to say about it.