Symptom of the Week 5/29-6/5 - Vision
 

I have visual symptoms on and off since I was diagnosed. I get eye pain, blurred vision, and nystagmus. The jerking eye movements are really annoying. For me, it's as if my eyes are in some sort of spasm. I also have a blind spot in my field of vision. When looking at someone's face, I don't see part of their left face when looking out of my left eye. This comes and goes for me. It is mostly my left eye that gives me trouble.

Vision issues can be related to optic neuritis and cerebellum lesions. I've only had one documented case of ON but have had a lot of issues due the lesions in my mid brain.

Heat really increases this symptom for me. When I get too hot, my vision goes blurry. Once I cool down, things return to normal.

I can't really say I have vision problems unless they have been so gradual I don't find them as unusual. I did have optic neuritis once.

My only visual problem I have is my addiction to seeing well. I thought I had adjusted to wearing glasses all my life and was quite surprised at how well I could see without glasses after both my cataract surgeries. That is until I had to read something. OK, back to the glasses. At least they don't cost much.

Like Doydie, the only MS related problem I had, was one bad long case of ON.
I just wear Reading glasses now, but really could use multi/bi glasses. That's
age baby.:eek:

So sorry for all of your eye problems, (((((Trish)))))

I've lately been experiencing vision problems that seem as if my eyeglasses aren't on right...no blurriness, just "off"

I experience that when I get overheated.:eek:. I noticed that
when my A/C came back on, my eyesight improved.

Do we have a name for Grocery Store Syndrome? A more official name?

If I am in a grocery store for more than a grab and go trip, my vision stats to narrow and I become MS weak. I know that i must get out and get home. I think it is because of all of the labels in my peripheral vision which my brain is seeing even though I am not looking at them?

The same thing happens when flying. We have been going to see my mom every other month. We fly Jet Blue. There are TV sets at every seat and whether I am looking or not, I see many out of my peripheral vision. And both airports have Air Malls - more vision work to walk thru even if we don't shop.

Both of these situations sap me of any energy and all of my "eye time" for the day and often the next day. :eek:

Can anyone relate?
ANN

Sally - I can relate to what you experienced. I get that way all the time when I am overheated. I find that I keep blinking my eyes to clear my vision but it doesn't work. You would think I would have learned by now that blinking won't clear the vision. :D

Ann - I think I know what you are talking about. Everytime I went in to a certain Target and a certain Safeway, I got the same way as you described. DD24 who was in classes for interior design at the time, mentioned that it was a newer Target and the Safeway that I went to was recently remodeled. She said it may be the lighting that was effecting me as well as the color red in the Target. This particular Target had A LOT of red all over it. I really don't know why it would have such an effect on me but it did. I did talk to my neurologist about it and it was determined that it was a visual thing but the issue remained in my cerebellum not the optic nerve. The next time we went to that Target I used the store's scooter. That helped significantly and I was able to complete a full shopping trip. I tried the same at the Safeway store and found I was able to complete the trip there as well. Before, I'd be in there for all of 10 minutes and would have to leave. So frustrating. Now, when I go shopping, I always take the scooter (if the store has one). It makes such a difference for me.

I remember at one time someone on here posted that their vision felt like someone had smeared Vaseline on their eyes. I don't experience that often but have experienced it. I thought that was a good description.

I also get random blind spots. I notice it mostly when reading. As usual, it's my left eye that I experience that with and I have to move my head a little to read (if that makes sense). It's really weird. It only lasts for a day or so and then goes away.

Ah yes, the ole vaseline on the eyeball thingy. I had that bigtime, with the ON:eek:

Sally, you wrote, "vaseline on the eyeball thingy." Oh my gosh, that's an actual THINGY? I mean an MS THINGY? I've had that, on and off, in my left eye for months. I really started to worry about it, so I went and had a full workup on my eyes. That means Glaucoma test, measuring tear production, lights shinin' on the back o' my eyeball. The whole nine yards. Everything was A-ok, and now I find out that this has been a THINGIE all along? Live and learn.

:)

Sometimes you can learn more about MS from people who have experienced your symptoms than you can from doctors who have only read about it. :icon_neutral: