I'm experiencing pain behind my eyes, moving my eyes, all the ON stuff. I'm leaving tomorrow for a five hour flight. I'm worried about air pressure changes. My eyes are visibly swollen today, though it's better tonight.


Before everybody says go see the neuro-optho. I already tried that. Besides, I really don't see the point. If it's ON can any harm be done if I fly? Obviously if it poses no threat-cool. If it's not ON, and only the doc can know for sure, then it's no problem to fly.

But then there's the question of PMS. If this is a pseudo-exacerbation due to hormones, then its not a true flare, does that mean there is no damage being done?

Sorry if I'm rambly, brain turned to clogged drain this week.

This information relates to pilots with ON, but some points might apply (see page 2.1-19):

http://www.casa.gov.au/manuals/regul...e/080r0201.pdf

I read elsewhere that dizziness might be a problem too.

Cherie

Hi Catch

As you can probably guess by my user name, I am a pilot. Although I haven't had a problem with ON, I do have problems with my vision. I wear corrective lenses for distance vision and have to wear very dark sunglasses when I am out in the sun. I haven't had a problem passing my annual flight exam.

Unless you have significant problems with pressure changes, I personally don't think you will have any problems during your flight.

Frist of all, the cabin pressure inside commercial airplanes is kept at a comfortable altitude so it shouldn't bother you. Having said that, it would depend on whether or not any pressure bothers you specifically.

I have MS and sometimes pressure bothers me. Do you have problems when you drive up a hill? Or when you take an elevator up to the top of a tall building? It would be the same type of pressure change. Or even when the barometer changes from a high pressure to a low pressure.

You could take some medication to relieve the pressure if it does bother you such as valium, xanax, or even a decongestant. But other than that, I would just relax. If your eyes bother you, then put a cool cloth over them and put down the window shade.

Do not hesitate to ask one of the Flight Attendants for assistance. They are there to help you.

Enjoy your flight!

Thanks for the link. It does have some great descriptions of symptoms, but it is the symptoms that ground a pilot. I just can't find anything about air pressure or altitude in relation to ON. I just hope either I wake up clear eyed tomorrow, that whatever is going on in my eyes isn't ON, or that it does no harm to travel if it is.

Maybe my Neuro will call tomorrow and ease my mind?

What kind of questions do you want answered about altitude inside the cabin? I am a commercial pilot and my husband just retired as an airline pilot.

Your message must have come in as I was looking at the link and responding.

Thank you so much for the info. Its amazing how hard it is to find that out. I am very sensative to altitude changes. I feel the pressure change several times traveling from sea level to 2000ft. Same with elevators. Forget swimming.

Anyway....I can deal with pain and discomfort, I just didn't want to do any permanent damage. (Cuz, just between us, I think there already is some damage there, although nothing yet shows up on tests. In 18 mos, I've probably had a total of 40 days with clear vision. Yet no ON has been found. Goofy.)

It would be the same as going up and down in an elevator. In fact, I suspect you won't notice anything any different than that. You might want to take a decongestant or get some over the counter nasal spray to take (I forget what's it called - not nasonex, but something similar) before you leave.

Thanks, i'll do that.

Feel better soon.

Enjoy your flight/trip!

And thanks!

Hi, Catch. When I was dxed with full-swing ON I was about to take a business trip. I DID wind up canceling the flight but only because my neuro-ophthalmologist had managed to get me an appointment with an MS specialist in record time and I would have had to re-schedule. She didn't want me to leave town for this reason but she also said that if I did take the trip "nothing bad will happen".

Actually, now that I think of it I guess I should add that 2 weeks prior to this (at which time I didn't have a CLUE as to what was going on) I flew in and out of town on a short trip. And nothing bad DID happen. (Except that I was driving around on highways not knowing what I wasn't seeing! )