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optic neuritis/will I be bilind one day

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    optic neuritis/will I be bilind one day

    Hello, All. I have had optic neuritis 4 times since I was diagnosed with RRMS in 2008. In fact, like many, I was diagnosed with MS b/c of an ON attack. I went to an annual eye appointment yesterday. They did a visual field study and took some pics. I saw a general opthamologist. He said he saw no sign of ON. He went only by the pictures he took. He gave me a prescription for new glasses but told me they probably wouldn't help.
    I asked if it was just old age. He said no, it was MS

    What are the odds that I would have the same symptoms and it not be ON? I have had blurriness in my right eye (the same one as always) and an obvious blurry spot. By the end of the day my eye is sort of milky and I cannot see, even with my glasses.

    Has anyone experienced this?

    #2
    I always thought I had had ON, but apparently it was just one eye not moving as well as the other. Mmm. The “great” fun is the trip to the optometrist. From what I’ve heard (not a doctor etc) it is very unlikely MS will cause blindness.

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      #3
      hope not

      I have been told by my MS doc that every time I get an attack, it makes the optic nerve thinner. If it becomes too thin, he said it may break the optic nerve. My eyesight has gotten progressively worse over the years and I am told glasses won't help.

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        #4
        Originally posted by kittysmith View Post
        I have been told by my MS doc that every time I get an attack, it makes the optic nerve thinner. If it becomes too thin, he said it may break the optic nerve. My eyesight has gotten progressively worse over the years and I am told glasses won't help.
        Do you get an OCT test? My opthalmologist does one every year to check the thickness of the retinal nerve. If this thins, even in the absence of a lesion or full relapse, it is a sign of progression and a time to look at treatment change/options. My neuro alwaumys wants the test image itelf and not just the report as well.
        Kathy
        DX 01/06, currently on Tysabri

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          #5
          Originally posted by kittysmith View Post
          He said he saw no sign of ON. He went only by the pictures he took.
          Did the Ophthalmologist look in your eyes as well as looking at the pictures? Do you have cataracts?

          What are the odds that I would have the same symptoms and it not be ON? I have had blurriness in my right eye (the same one as always) and an obvious blurry spot.
          I have never had ON. I do have vision problems related to MS as well as unrelated to MS. I have Astigmatism, congenital cataracts (those 2 are unrelated to MS) and Internuclear ophthalmoplegia (INO) which is due to MS. What I am trying to say is there can be different causes for vision problems and they may or may not be due to MS.

          It sounds like the Ophthalmologist just wrote all of your vision complaints off as MS. Maybe they are due to MS but maybe not.

          You might consider seeing a Neuro-Ophthalmologist for a better evaluation/exam.
          Diagnosed 1984
          “Lightworkers aren’t here to avoid the darkness…they are here to transform the darkness through the illuminating power of love.” Muses from a mystic

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            #6
            Originally posted by kittysmith View Post
            I have been told by my MS doc that every time I get an attack, it makes the optic nerve thinner. If it becomes too thin, he said it may break the optic nerve. My eyesight has gotten progressively worse over the years and I am told glasses won't help.
            Forgot in my other reply. I had ON, but only once, but it did not affect the thickness of the optic nerve. So not sure how your doc is saying every attack thins it.

            I think Snoopy's advice to see a neuroopthalmologist is wise advice. I only see a general opthalmologist, but outside the one bout of ON, don't have any eye related MS problems. If you can't see a specialist, insist that your doc start annual OCT tests to monitor the thickness of your retinal nerves.
            Kathy
            DX 01/06, currently on Tysabri

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              #7
              I have.

              I have a neuro opthomologist, but this was a regular eye appointment. The MS clinic nurse called me Friday. She said my doc has looked at the picutres of my optic nerve. She said he does not feel it is an ON attack. She told me my optic nerve may be swollen because of the heat. It is also possible that this is my new baseline. In other words, there has been some permanent damage that will not improve. I am blessed to work for a very well known hopital. I have access to an opthomologist, retinal specialist, and neuro opthomologist, and an MS specialist. I read in one post that MS does not lead to blindness. It actually can. I have a former coworker who lost the sight in both eyes due to MS. He has PPMS. Thankfully, I have RRMS.

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                #8
                In 2003 had it in my right eye before MS and the sight came back, it's a little dim. 2 years later it happened in my left eye which the sight came back in.
                RRMS 2005, Copaxone since 2007
                "I hope to be the person my dog thinks I am."

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                  #9
                  oops... meant to say the sight did not come back in the left eye. Sorry for the confusion.
                  Jen
                  RRMS 2005, Copaxone since 2007
                  "I hope to be the person my dog thinks I am."

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                    #10
                    It could be dry eye problems. I get the same cloudy, blurry feeling a lot, and my right eye has areas that I feel I can't see as well out of. I need to use eye drops throughout the day. It may help you as well.

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