I haven't even finished the steroids for my first flare, and my symptoms are coming back. I saw my neuro Tuesday, and she said the steroids can take 30 days to really kick in, and that I may find some of the symptoms are permanent. So ok, I'll wait out those things.

But one thing that wasn't even bothering me at the time of the flare was my eyes. I'd been having blurry vision (virtually constantly for 10 months) which had been dismissed by my optho and both neuros. My optho assured me it was my Fuchs (an eye condition that causes blurriness when you wake and generally clears up after a couple of hours, only mine lasts pretty much all day--unusual, but not unheard of). My evoked potentials for my eyes were only slightly off from normal (don't recall the numbers, but docs didn't find it very significant).

For the past couple of days my blurry vision is back, big time. I have occasional sharp stabbing pains in my eyes and feel pain and pressure behind my eyes. I've had this off and on for I don't know how many years, but this is the worst it's ever been. I couldn't read, couldn't watch TV, I was so uncomfortable last night.

This morning I have pain in only my left eye, and I have flashes of light in my right eye and shadows in my left. I also have pain on moving my eyes. I know I should call my neuro, probably see an optho. But do I wait it out for the steroids? Cause, that's the treatment, right?

I've had the same symptoms since 1999. Sometimes worse than others, but my eyes always have one or all of the following: Blurry, double vision, ghosting, pain behind eye(s), tic's causing eyes to squint and blink, color difference in my right eye.

I just want to say 'fuchs'

It sounds very much like MS running amok, but personally, I would never delay with eye issues. I do think you should have this checked out.

If it is MS, steroids is what they might recommend, if anything. I've never had big eye problems though, so maybe others might have some additional ideas.

Cherie

I have had diplopia/nystagmus and took oral steroids. They took about a week for me to see results. Whine away, eye problems are horrible!

What kind of steroids did they give you? IV or oral?

Both. I had three days of IV (solumedrol) and I'm down to the last three days of a tapering dose of prednisone.

Catch, if it's at all possible, try to get an appointment to see a neuro-ophthalmologist! (And Erin is asking about what type of steroids because oral steroids alone are actually NOT recommended for ON.)

Oops, our posts crossed -- (and WHEW on your response)! That is the recommended treatment for ON but it still sounds like you should get your eyes checked out.

Steroids really mess with my vision too. I'm on them now & can't see worth a flip.

There could be several reasons for your eye pain other than just MS symptoms, especially while on steroids. I get increased pressure in my eyes so you should probably try to see an Opthomologist to get that checked. It took me years to figure out that my blood sugar & BP go up while using steroids & that also affects my vision.

Last & easiest, is that my eyes, left one in particular, don't produce enough tears & they get really dry. I didn't realize that could cause pain but it does. So, I use lots of lubricating eye drops, like Refresh or Optima, when I'm on the 'roids.

I know doctors can get frustrating when you can't get a real answer but don't let it get in the way of your vision. If you still are having pain try to see an Opthomologist as soon as you can.

Good luck & hope this helps some.

I agree with Bearygood, whew! on your response about the steroids!

Did you call your opthalmologist today? I really hope you did and that you got it checked out.

I actually just got home from dinner, but just before I went to dinner with my parents, I was back at my opthalmologist's office. My right eye had bad headache pain behind it this morning, and it felt just like my left eye did the first time I had ON...only it was nowhere near the level of pain I had the first time.

Since it was friday, and since things were following almost the same course as the first time. (pain, fuzzy vision, blurred vision, and more intense pain) I decided to go get checked out again.

My optho said that he thinks I'm at the peak of the current ON, and that it might have some more blurred vision and pain over the weekend, but that I should start improving within the next couple of weeks. No blind spots, just pain and blurry/fuzzed up vision. (whew! I felt better after seeing the optho)

Can you call your opthalmologist over the weekend if you didnt today? My optho will actually open up his office over the weekend for one patient if there's an emergency. He and his techs told me this a few times during the three visits I had with them this week.

I had to cancel a physical therapy session for my knee so that I could go to the eye doctor. I figured my eyes are more important than my knees. I can always get a knee replaced, but I cant replace my eyes. I ignored my eye pain the first time I got ON. (I had no clue I had MS at the time) I'm trying to not ever ignore any problems with my eyes ever again. They're too important to me.

As soon as you can, call your opthalmologist.