ok all, I need your wisdom

Chris went to the opthamologist today for an eye exam (of course I couldn't go because I couldn't take off work) so my parents took him.

He said his right eye had severe nerve damage due to his MS and that glasses won't help. Not being there I couldn't ask questions. He did tell my parents that it could be better but you never know and wants to see him in three months. He did not say ON but is that what this is?

Chris would barely read the second line with his right eye.

Dedra, it sounds possible if they're relating it to MS but that's not the only condition that could cause it. (I know that Pars Planitis is another one.)

Had he ever experienced any eye pain, color desaturation or blurry vision? Mine was really a textbook case but I'm sure you've read about others who've experienced ON more "silently". Personally, if the nerve is implicated (for whatever reason), I'd try to get a referral to a neuro-ophthalmologist.

I have optic atrophy, I have perment nerve damage and nothing will help it. For a while I could not see anything in my centeral feild and now I have 4 black spots and some blurry sopts. it could be that or it could be ON. If you can call the doctor back and ask him or someone else in his office.

Thanks for the advice - he does want to see him again in April and he is going to do so sort of field test. Not sure what that is.

My mom is calling to see if they can fax me the exam notes/results so I can take them to the neuro on 2/5

Hmm. Working at a deficit because we don't know the whole situation but did he not get a visual field test at this appointment?

It's like a video game -- you stare at a screen and after they measure the eye, lights flash around and you press a button when you see them appear. It literally shows you the field of vision. If you look at the print out, you will see little black spots that indicate where the deficits are. If/as vision improves, you will see these black spots lessen or disappear in subsequent tests. (Except for where your optic nerve is, which will always be dark! )

That is the test he is having done in April.

When I was going through ON, I had one on a regular basis so that my progress could be checked. The first one I got was considered the baseline.

ON or not, confusing to me why they wouldn't do it now, so that they could detect any improvement or further deterioration in future readings.

Jim wears prescription glasses but they are for reading. He also has bifocals that he uses on the computer. All MS related we are told by a neuro ophthalmologist.

Hi Dedra! I've had intermediate uveitis (pars planitis) for 16 years. My symptoms are slightly blurry vison at times, 'floaters' I see black spots and squiggles especially when looking at a light colored surface, I have dry eyes and use artificial tears, my eyes water if I am in windy conditions. My vision is actually pretty good during my eye exams. I only wear glasses for distance at night while I'm driving. I see a retinologist and have periodic steroid injections in my eyes to alleviate the symptoms. I think you should take Chris to a neuro opthamologist if you can. Sometimes the regular optho isn't as well-versed in this type of issue. I know that when my regular optho suspected my condition he immediately recommended I see a retinologist. I hope everything goes well!

Hey - I had the field of vision test when I was getting my second (third, fourth) opinions in 2002...I do remember that for some reason I was SO tired after I was done. I think it is just from staring at the screen for so long!

My field of vision came out with this huge blind spot - but the MS specialist felt the test was done incorrectly and the machine wasn't set up right. I've never had ON, so I tend to agree with him.

Did your son have a dilated eye eyam? That's what most MS'ers have done annually, and apparently the optic nerves can be studied then.

I sure hope Chris catches a break soon...he is way too young for any of this...is the Ty causing any positive changes yet?