i think i have MG too.. thanks to a google search that led me here. i suffer from the same thing (eyes won't stay shut).

I often get this problem when driving. It is scary isn't it. I have to drive 100 miles to my Dr and sometimes feel like I cannot keep the eyelids up and see. It comes on so suddenly and you can't seem to stop it. I don't have any answers - sorry - I am trying to be diagnosed myself.

Xanadu, I hope you get diagnosed very soon.

mrrunon, did you mean to say you can't keep your eyes open? I don't know about not being able to keep your eyes shut, although come to think of it now,there is a neuro exam for mg where the patient is told to to close their eyes as tightly as they can and then the neurologist will pull up on the eyelid and some patients have trouble keeping their eye closed.

Okay, I just found another reference to some patients not being able to keep their eyes completely closed during sleep.

I'm sure other people know more about this. I'll tell you what: if you still think you might have mg the best thing to do would be to start a new topic and explain a little bit about your symptoms. You'd get the most help and the most feedback that way.

At any rate, whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best of luck.

You are not alone...... We share a similar problem...
 

Rest is the key with a good pair of sun glasses. Try getting a stick on eye patch and wear it whe you can to rest the eye. Is one eye worse than the other.... I get double vision with very tired eyes. If I do not rest and am rundown I have serious vision issues due to MG. How do you find light... I like things dimmer more relaxed on the eyes even in the home. Snow is the worst when driving and headlights at night on a bad day cause problems. Try resting one eye at a time. It works for me. I get totaly upset when my eyes are not working causes stress and only makes it harded to get back on track.Double vision lots. If I close my eyes for a rest it makkes it harder to get the single vision. Head tiliting at times is helpful to make it home.If you cant pull out of the double vision, cover one eye and it will be single. All this is very scary, I have had this off and on for twenty years. Rest those eyes, and get rid of stress, or you may have an illness comeing on. Take Care hope this help....Mother of three thought only I felt this. Winter to Summer also pose problems...Would liike to learn more .....Thanks Lori:hug::hug::hug::hug:

I too have times when I have trouble closing my eyes, I thought it was just me because everyone always complains about keeping them open. It does take work to open ones eyes {in more ways than one} Having been DXed over 18 years it amazes me to learn something new everytime I come here.

Welcome to all the new visitors to the site, you will find answers here and learn so much!

That reminds me. Does anyone else wake up with a dry feeling eye and a lid that is not working and open ? I sometimes have to drag the lid down over the eye and then it does not feel dry any more and gradually gets back to normal ( whatever that is lol)

I have problems keeping my eyes closed tight too when I'm really weak...For example, after I have a shower, and come out of the bathroom, there are 'halos' around all the lights in my house. I realized it's because water accumulates on my eyes because I can't close them tight enough- it's kinda annoying...lol...I also find that my eyelids are swollen a lot, especially in the mornings...I guess it's from keeping them slightly ajar all night....

Lately, last couple of days, my left eyelid is lower than the right one...I never had 'droopy' eyelids before....This is a new one...

Closing Eyes
 

Funny, I had never heard of this problem until it was brought up on this thread. What I found in the mg book when I looked it up said exactly the same thing as you here are saying. The author of the book describes problems in keeping the eyes closed in the shower and washing hair, of not being able to close one eye while leaving the other open while taking photographs, and of patients having difficulties completely closing their eyes during sleep and having irritated eyes upon awakening.

I haven't had any of these problems (yet - knock on virtual wood :winky:). I'm glad you all were able to connect and be reassured that it wasn't just you!

Ally

Welcome, Lori Denise!! Holy cow, twenty years is a long time to be struggling with this.

You gave some terrific advice. My eyes are always worse when there is bright sun out, my eyebrow falls and my eye muscles don't cooperate and my vision is blurry. I just didn't have the presence of mind to put on the sunglasses. Next time I will. Actually next time I'll put on sunglasses and pull over and call and get some help.

Do you have purely ocular mg? Or is it generalized mg. I can't imagine driving in the snow with that kind of challenge. Around here, everything just shuts down and we all make hot cocoa to hand out to the masses of cold neighborhod kids running through our houses on their way back up to the top of the hill for a nice slide down again. Ya, I know what you're thinking and it's true: we're snow wimps. It sure is a fun time though!


Ally

hi
 

I have problems when sleeping. My eyes dont stay shut. I end up with very painful dry eyes because of this.

Does anyone else have this? I think its because I dont take to take mestinon during the night. When I have a shower I have to make sure I took mestinon an hour before otherwise I wouldn't manage it, so I dont have problems with getting water in my eyes.

Thanks
Rach