Eye Exam
 

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? :confused:

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?

I think he has had this problem with his right eye from the very beginning - the first regular eye doctor (not an opthamologist) said he had a stigmatism (sp).

He did have his eye dialated for this exam and all the doctor said was his nerves were damaged by MS and there is really nothing you can do, just hope his MS gets in check.

I do believe Chris is seeing maybe a very slight improvement in his walking in the last week (maybe because of the Ty, maybe not).

Thanks all - your the greatest

Okay, here is the update - I had the optho fax me his diagnosis and here is what it says:

"No active optic neuritis. Normal optic nerves without pallor. OCT shows decrease in nerve fiber layer thickness consistent with old optic neuritis from MS episodes."

Visual fields, monitor progress - 3 months.


Ok, so now do I just wait until April??

So sorry for Chris, Dedra. I know he had his hopes up for the Tysabri.

He has lost so much in such a short time! I hope you are able to get some answers and peace of mind.

Let's pray it doesn't continue to progress. Best wishes to you both. XOXOXOXO

Thanks Twinks - I really don't think it is the Ty not working as much as he was just so bad to begin with - apparrently his eye situation is from the past.

So does that mean ON comes and goes?

ON is not a constant state. It means that he has an attack (or attacks) and didn't realize it or didn't say anything.

The fact that the pallor of the nerve is good, but a few things puzzle me. I don't understand why they didn't do a visual field test now, so they have something to compare and also how the doctor is sure he's not in the midst of an attack right now. At least in textbook cases of ON, it usually have a curve; sx present when it begins, then new ones present and then as recovery occurs, it kind of rewinds.

I would suggest you calling the doctor to shed some more light on the report and ask what tests were done. (I'm wondering if he used OCT, but not even all neuro-ops have that piece of equipment. :confused:)

I don't remember you saying what led him to the eye doctor in the first place. Was this just a normal check-up or did he go because his vision was blurry?

Bearygood,

He did use an OCT for the exam - see above post. This was really just a checkup because it had been a year since his last exam which was just a regular optician who said he had a sigmatism (sp) in his right eye.

I decided he really needed to see an opthamologist because a full months ago he was complaining of his right eye hurting - I guess I didn't realize the extent of the problem.

Chris never complains or really tells me when something is wrong so I have to really push him to tell me anything.

I know; you've mentioned this before and I know it must be upsetting and frustrating.

I didn't realize that he had pain, which now does sound like he has ON. (It usually doesn't disappear in just a few months although the pain part does). Perhaps what the ophthalmologist meant by "not active" is that he is no longer in an acute phase?

(Sorry I missed the OCT mention!)

Thanks all, I will keep you posted