What is Multiple Sclerosis MS
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease which affects the brain and spinal cord. MS can cause a variety of symptoms, including changes in sensation, visual problems, muscle we...
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Eyesight issues
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Well I really don't know where to start with this issue because it is so hard to describe. When I was diagnosed with MS in 2007, I had optic neuritis in my left eye. Now everyone that has had this knows what's it like, or maybe it's different for everyone, but I can only describe it as "a dull spot" or "bright blurriness." Since then I have, however, gotten used to this. I even work on computers a good 12 hours of my day and I manage pretty well. But lately in the last few months, it's been happening in my right eye.. Since then I have been to the Opthamologist, where all I get is a "minor redness in the nerves" diagnosis and their is nothing they can do.
I mean, what else can they do when I am able to read everything in front me with a little strain. I technically still have 20/20 vision, so they look at me like.. what are you complaining about? It's so very irritating living with something that NO one has the answer to. It's even more irritating when I can't really explain it. It's worse when I am stressed that's for sure.. which is, well.. all the time in my lame line of work. I guess I am just wondering if anyone else has this issue and if they do, what helps? Tinted glasses of some kind? To try to explain a little more, my situation, it's a sensitivity to brightness I assume. Night streets with stop lights and bright blinky lights is the worst for me. As is florescent lighting in all shopping situations. I can tame it and deal, but my eyes get so damn tired to where even looking at the Television is too much. :( Owell. If anyone has any experience with this, I'm curious. Thanks. Posted on 11/04/09, 10:11 pm |
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Interesting post, being aware of ON in the process but not actually there. My neuro is pretty adamant about steroids with ON, as are most docs. So first I looked for steroid treatment in your post and it wasn't there. On had not arrived yet. MS demylenation weakens the nerves and since you are on a computer so much, your at 100% usage of your eyesight so you would be aware when it starts, before it happens.
The only thing I can suggest is frequent rest periods where you close your eyes for a minute or a few...that what is done for all the nerves to the legs and stuff. Frequent rest periods. I would think that would be the same for eyes. If you wear glass the prescription is up to date...the biggest adjustment I made after having ON in each eye at different times, I began to wear sunglasses when driving in winter with the glare from the snow making it difficult to see. I doubt sunglasses will work in your environment. Thats the only thing I can think of frequent rest period for your eyes & perhaps a cool wash cloth over your eyes while you rest. Nerves function better in the cool temperatures. 
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The same lighting conditions are hell for me, I have migraines. When I was a teen I worked in a department store and the lights were a problem so I wore tinted glasses. Now I work in an office and requested an ADA accommodation. The flourescent lights above me are turned off and I have a lamp that brings my light source from behind me (over my shoulder light) as was recommended by my opthamologist. This has made a big difference for me. Also, the older computer monitors flicker a great deal and are very problematic. Make sure you have a newer flat screen! As you have already been told, take lots of breaks.
Good luck!!
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my vision itself isn't too bad fi you look at the numbers, but if you had the ability to look thru my eyes you would think it is terrible! I had 20/20 in the L eye with astigmatism, 20/25 in the R eye with astigmatism. I would suffer tunnel vision after reading for a significant period of time, and double vision while looking at the tv. So, I mostly listened to tv for at least 5 years. Over the past year, developing ON, my vision really deteriorated, double vision more frequently, headaches, eyepain... my left eye is still stronger than the R, but my left eye jumps so much that the opthoneurologist rx'd a prism optic for my L lens. OMG what a difference - it is just a static cling piece that fits over my lens, with lots of horizontal lines on it - it's barely noticeable except in the sun because I do have transition lenses and now the left lens doesn't become as dark as the right because of the prism - it is a bit strange looking then, but I do not care, it is amazing how much better I can see! the OpthoN thinks I may only need to use it for a year or so, but these lines can be engraved right into my lens if it turns out that I need it for a longer term. I no longer suffer double vision as long as I am wearing my glasses. I still get eye pain occasionally, but I've only had the prism for about 1 month, so I expect that my eye is still adjusting/strenghtening. My night vision is still somewhat poor, but much improved - cars stay single, but the lights still have halos and send out shooting beams... but it's not nearly as frightening to drive in the dark.
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OMG, I get halos round lights at night. I hadn't made an association. The neuro I saw about 5 weeks ago thinks I've had some ON changes, but it hasn't been a dramatic onset. I get periods of finding focussing really hard work, and (particularly at night) just looking at anything really hurts. Resting my eyes really does help.
But it's very noticeable that some days my vision is much better than others, and wearing glasses doesn't really change that.
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I used to get halos alot more, until they discovered that I had glaucoma. Now I take drops for that. I have had light sensitivity for a really long time, also suffered from migraines and light was horrible with them. I have a terrible time explaining to the doctors what my eyse feel like. I feel sometimes that I have almost split vision, hard to explain, but like I know I am seeing with two eyes. And I have problems with wind. I have more and more night blindness. My ON seemed to go away about three years ago, but to me, it has never really gotten all the way "better."
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I get that "split vision" - told the OpthoNeurologist that my eyes don't always seem to work binocularly... and that's when she used this clear rod "thingy" of varying thickness to see if it made any difference when held infront of my eyes, it made a huge difference, and that's when she rx'd the prism optic. it really helps!
my grandfather had glaucoma, so i do get tested very regularly, my split vision is from ON, not glaucoma (at least for now anyway thankfully...) but glaucoma is certainly part of my family history and something that will always have to be looked for,
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Thanks everyone for the replies.
My ON ended up going away after about 8 months but I still saw the same. I often wonder why my doctor didn't throw me onto steroids right away. But now I worry that maybe my right eye needs addressed, so maybe I'll call the doc again. YES HALOS! That's a perfect way to put it. Bright lights are a blur to me. But even waking up in the morning and walking into sunfilled room, everything is just muted, whiter- almost like there is smoke in the room. I don't have fluttery eyes, or double vision or split vision or any of that so I guess I'll count my lucky stars. Sorry to hear of everyone's worse off issues with this.. I may look into tinted glasses.. I seem to feel better with shades on.
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I used to have nystagmus in my eyes when they shook so much that I had double vision, and it made it near impossible to read. Then as my eyes stopped shaking as much, I developed a lesion on my optic chasm (where the optic nerves from both eyes meet). Everything went black in my right eye and everything was extremely blurry in my left eye. My ophthalmologist (he was specialized in neurology) put me on a course of IV steroids for five days and then oral steroids for 10 days. I am convinced they did nothing.
I am pretty sure you have to just let it run its course. My sight is back in my left eye and there is only a small blurry circle in my right eye now. It's been about 8 weeks.
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I also am having issues with ON. But, I ready your post and related totally to your light sensitivity. I have trouble when I am in a dept. store, or mall type area due to the lights. Even in my own restroom the light is so bright sometimes that my eyes struggle with it.
When I look at the television, I note that if I close my good eye, my bad eye is super blurry, as if it is covered with veg, oil. Just smeary-like. So, I know you are not alone in your issues. I am glad you are able to still do your work on your computer. That is good. Have you talked to the neuro about this? Mine just put me on Solumedrol for my ON and a case of L'Hermittes. I wish you well. Sherizi
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Solumedrol? Let me know how that goes. I'm calling my doctor today to see if anything can be done. What I wasnt sure about tho.. should I call my nero or just my opto??? Hmmm.
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