Well you just described me exactly to the point. The only period in my life I had multiple HA's each week was around 5 months before I was Dx. That period lasted no more than 4-5 months and I was treated by a PCP as an idiopathic "migraines case". After I was adviced to stay away from Fioricet my HA's dissapeared in the same weird and sudden way they had appeared before. The came some months without any symptoms and the all of a sudden the blurriness of both eyes srtiked me leading that to my IIH Dx due to confirmed PAPS in both eyes. That's was on late 2008, never after I've had HA's and I'm constantly being asked the question regarding the HA's by all doctors. After being treated with Diamox I've had noted improvement but when I've lowered the dose I've had problem with the "focusing thing" you just described instead of the blurriness I experienced back in 2008, and I can tell the difference since I've suffered from both. The only explanation I've got from my Neurologist is that the lack of focusing ability is more typical of "optic neuritis" than PAPS. I just had an MRI last week that confirmed the optic nerve damaged I experienced plus 2 VEP's (visually evoked potential)tests. So, I hope I shed some light but at least answer your question with a "Yes, I've felt the same".
Take care,
Krys

Oh, I forgot to tell you that in my recent visit to the NO, he told me that he couldn't see no PAPS signs in none of my eyes. He was even willing to take me completely out of Diamox but I hesitated since last time he tried I felt bad and had an increased trouble with the focusing problem. In my case I feel my eyes also watery when I'm having that problem.
Krys

you described my eyes to a t as well. I no longer have paps either. I also get mild headaches, usually after I have tried to clean the entire house in a few hours, like I used to (gosh that sounds like nothing, but cleaning the house is a big deal now) Once in a blue moon I get bad headaches, usually during pms.

Back to the eyes. If I cover up my right eye I do have some permanent blurriness in the left eye, but I still see 20/20 out of the left eye. That has been the case ever since I had paps in 08. It started out so blurry I couldn't really see and by Jan 09. I could see 20/20 with some blurriness, it improved as much as it is going to. My peripheral vision is perfect (I'm told) No paps. And I can't tell I have any blurriness unless I cover the one eye. It's very strange. I also had paps in both eyes, no blurriness in the right eye, ever. I did have some peripheral vision loss in that eye when I was first diagnosed.

I get the burning/stinging if my eyes are dry, and when they are watering like a faucet. I also have temporary nearsightedness. It sometimes takes a few mins for things to come into perfect focus. The opthamologist told me the focus issue was a sign of getting older. She is so sweet.

I don't know how much this will help because we all need to keep a check on our eyes anyways but paps for me started out much different than this.
I saw stars or small lights (like on a field test) after watching TV or looking at the computer too long. I would have complete black outs upon standing that lasted all of a second. I didn't have the blurriness like krystell had. The first stage really was as simple as seeing the stars/ tiny lights. Something I thought could be normal for anyone staring at a bright screen for hours.

I really do think this illness can cause other eye issues besides paps. It excites me when I am told I do not have paps, but I know something is going on with my eyes.

I hope you get your eye exam soon. Meanwhile I would try eye drops for the burning/stinging. I wouldn't worry about it taking a min to get full focus.

I hope this helps a little.

Thanks Krystell and Betty for your responses. I just spoke with my NO in Ohio and they were telling me that the symptoms that I am having can be caused from Migraine. In fact, there are some people, who as Krystell described, are diagnosed with visual migraine only minus the headache. (I can't even imagine..)

Because I had been diagnosed with Migraines, and in particular, Hemiplegic Migraines for so many years prior to the IH, my doctors are leaning towards the belief that I still suffer from those even with the shunt. The problem for me is that no determination has been made as to whether or not my shunt is actually functioning normally. Until that determination is made, no determination can be made as to whether or not I have Migraines outside of IIH. So, I just go on waiting.... For the first time in a long time I am actually hoping that my shunt ISN'T working. Why? Because if it isn't working than I can just have another surgery and move forward. If it is working than I most likely do have migraines outside of IIH and I'll be sick no matter what!!!

So....I'm making a new appointment with Dr. Katz and Dr. McGregor. Back to Ohio I go!!!

Se La Vie...

MM3

Migraines without a headache, what a shocker!...but can't rule out that explanation if it's the that fits the description. But it's certaintly a medical wonder. Thanks for the info, MM3!
KRys

Thanks.. Maybe that's whats wrong with my eyes.
I really pray that is it.

ty, ty, ty... Maybe I won't have a nervous break down before my appoint in June.. Whew!

Betty.

Hi MM3.Ok, we are both back in the same boat! I am not having the best day,concentration, nil but I will try and answer.

I now know that as well as IIH and a functioninng shunt,I also STILL have migraine! But dont despair! Since i got the shunt, my migraines are better to control.You will, after awhile , learn the difference between the two and treat accordingly.

Like you, I would wish my shunt was blocked or broken, just to have a better answer.But I have come to accept that as my neuro said, ( with kindness!) My opening pressure of 34 ( with working shunt!) is as good as it gets for me. At least my paps are improving!

Some days, you just have to be glad of something.The pain is not as bad as before.I know what is wrong woth me and it is not something I dreamed up for attention ( as some have suggesested) My care is free unlike some terrible people who cant afford help.

You must go on fighting, even when you are all worn out.We have to. For ourselves and each other. I know you will find the strenght again. Se La Vie..? You said it! Hugs Cath.

Krystell.I just remembered something my optcian told me awhile back. The lack of focus, with some , is because, without even noticing, before you became aware that something was wrong with your eyes,you were "giving" in to your eyes. I mean, putting less pressure on them and not using the muscles correctly. Ex, if you hurt your leg, you would put move pressure on the good one.
Thus, your eye muscles become lazy and dont want to move, so they move more slowly, and get out of focus.

Once my paps started to heal , and I was doing exersises to strengten the muscles, it got a lot better. Make any sense to you? Cath.

Cath: It does sounds plausible, and I really hope that's the case.
KrYs

Hi MM3,
I have a headache almost every night and as we learned from ICP monitoring my pressure is high..albeit not all the time and I have never had PAPS, but they have never looked at my eyes at night when the pressure is the highest...I have been having more and more problems with my eyes being blurry and not focusing....my OPTHO blames it on dry eyes,,,,yeah right...I don't know if I mentioned it but I also have glaucoma and rhuematioid arthritis. the medicine I take for my arthritis can cause blindness...so I have three diseases that can cause blindness...so far I only have a very small problem with my visual fields.. and infact the last one I had was almost normal...I wonder why some of us have paps and some don't ??? I had an appointmen to see Dr. Katz back in 2008 but my insurance said they would not cover me if I went out of state..knowing what I know now Im not sure he could of helped me...it blows my mind to read how many people get shunts without having an ICP monitoring..but I think if you are having vision problems it is an almost certain thing. I hope one day we look back on this and say remember when they didn't know how to cure IIH...we can only dream...I hope you find some answers...Paula

Paula: I said this before, but want to share it also with you. I started out with marked PAPS. But since last year my visual fields improved notably as to being labeled as normal. In my last visit to my NO he told me I didn't need anymore medication since I was fine from both eyes. Yet, I still have some focusing problem and little bluriness specially in the right eye plus some blackouts. My Neuro did another test and he confirmed I had some optic neuritis which is permanent damage to the inside part of the optic nerves which can't be noticed by the NO eye exam, therefore he can find me "cured" and yet I experience eye problems due to the permanent damage.
KrYs