Damaged optic nerves
 

My wife Marg (MS for 35 years) has in the past 6 months had difficulty trying to read. The words become blurred, then better then blurred. Trying to read a newspaper becomes very tiresome for her. A trip to the optometrist 6 months ago and then a referral to the neuro ophthalmologist has resulted in a preliminary diagnosis of damaged optic nerves.

Marg has never had a problem with her eyes and never suffered from any kind of optic neuritis. The doc told her that this damage to her optic nerves is something that didn't happen recently but quite some time ago but he can't tell us what caused the problem. He states it isn't from any of the medications that she is on and is still waiting for some test results to come back but is stumped at the moment.

As anyone here ever experienced something like this before.

Harry

The opposite
 

I have been having trouble with some blurring and saw the opthamologist earlier this week. She said I have very healthy optical nerves and if the neuro didn't tell her I had MS she would never have guessed it from the state of my 'eyes'.

I have been feeling like I am getting a blurry side to my eye and some pressure and other feelings but so far all the tests show absolutely nothing.

I guess I am saying that the 'old' damage may not be causing any problems now but it could just be one of those quirky MS things that come and go!

I love my reading and embroidery, but haven't embroidered for a while now as it is too detailed for my achy eyes! I hope your DW and mine clear up soon! I am only 37 too!

Hi Harry:

My 35th anniversary was a few days ago. I have always admired how you support your wife.

Currently I am in limboland with negative VEP's. However, I had give up reading about four years ago and when I am tired or having a setback I get double or blurred vision.

MS does damage the optic nerve unfortunately. I can still knit, but patterns confuse me. It's extremely frustrating, a daily problem. I'm sorry your wife is not able to read. :(

My wife, Marg, saw the low vision opthomologist the other day and he confirmed that her sight problems caused by the damaged optic nerves are the result of several years of MS.

For many years, the nerves from Marg's eye to the brain have been able to compensate for any damage and thus she didn't have any symptoms. But the doc explained that these nerves will reach a certain tolerance point and then be unable to compensate any longer. Fortunately Marg doesn't have any peripheral sight problems at this time.

The doc prescribed 4 different viewing devices which will hopefully allow Marg to retain some quality of life. She gets these devices next week.

Harry

Harry and Marg,

Sorry to hear about the prognosis. If it isn't one thing, it's another eh?

In this case, the unpredictability of this disease may also bring her some relief in the future.

All the best.

Cherie

Hi Harry -- Sorry to hear about this. I have had the same problem -- and it was finally dx as Optic Neuritis by my nuero after a VEP (visual evoked Potential) --Has she had one of these? The reason I ask is that my optomotrist and optomologist could find nothing wrong. They Could not see the damage because it was so far back on the nerve. (Even though through their many exams I could actually feel it when they shinned the bright light thiny right on the spot that was damaged).

Is it just one eye or both? With me it was just one eye and it hurt when I looked to the left or right--and the color red was really dull out of that eye.

Mine has repaired itself -- I see pretty well now out of both eyes-athough I am bothered by bright lights and florescents. I do have to wear glare proof, slightly shaded reading glasses.

I am glad they have recommended the seeing devices. Hopefully that will help her. Good luck to you both. Gail :)

Marg's had 3 different tests and I can't remember the names of them. The last one used a special camera to take detailed pics on the inside of her eye. Haven't got the results back on that one yet.

It's both eyes and that's why at first they weren't too sure that the problem was MS related. But the low vision doc feels strongly that her optic nerves have compensated for years even though nerve damage had occurred but now the nerves just can't handle it anymore.

Hopefully these viewing devices will give her back a little quality of life which she has lost. Just one more thing in the fight against this lousy disease.

Harry

Harry, does she have any sleep
 

problems too? I have perm. damaged optic nerves due to years of ON attacks. I slept normal until my 1st ON attack, and my sleep is deprived, at best, since then.

In 2004 (think that was the year) the American Board of Optamology participated in a study on people with optic nerve damage and sleep problems. I haven't pulled up the study in a few months, but I googled it in (advance search) line 1) optic nerve damage, 2) american board of optamology (if my mem. serves me).

Let me know, as I feel like the lone wolf in the wilderness out here, experiencing sleelessness due to what I believe to be damaged optic nerves. Thanks

Fortunately Marg has never had sleep problems related to her damaged optic nerves. Her spasms have made up for that in this area:(

The low vision ophthalmologist has told her that the damage to her optic nerves likely occurred years ago from the MS but the other undamaged nerves have been able to compensate for quite some time. But as usually is the case with MS, the disease progression gets to a point where your nerves can no longer compensate and the problems begin.

The doc told her that there is likely no recovery of the nerves in this situation and she will have this problem for the rest of her life!

Harry