Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Eye Care Archive (Expert Forum)
Graves patient with strange dizziness, eye pain, blurry vision on waking
Our Ask A Doctor Ophthalmology Forum is where you can post your question and receive a personal answer from physicians affiliated with the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Graves patient with strange dizziness, eye pain, blurry vision on waking
by Katz7, Dec 13, 2006 12:00AM
Hello-
I am experiencing some very strange sensations in addition to the expected swelling, dryness and eye pain normal for Graves' ophthmalopathy. Note that I was recently seen by an ophthalmologist in September for a follow-up and diagnosed with Graves eye disease last March. I have not mentioned this concern to the doctor becuase I am not sure how to explain it and I haven't found anything on the web that has anything that sounds like what I am experiencing! (I have mentioned blurriness that does not resolve with reading glasses upon waking in the morning for about 30 mins or that occurs late at night when tired- I am 41 years old and he says it is ok for someone of my age to experience these phenomenon.)
I do not have out right double vision. Instead, I often get a dizzy sensation when walking or if I move my head too quickly from one side to another. The sensation is very acute when I am walking outside or in a store like Walmart- it is almost, but not quite, as if the images I see bounce up and down slighlty instead of staying still. It has become so overwhelming when I am at the store that I keep my eyes down on the floor until I get to the section of the aisle which contains the items I will purchase. I love to be outside and it has made it unpleasant to take a walk! The sensation lessens if I can look at the road while walking, but if I try to walk on grass or leaves, surfaces that are not consistent in texture, then I get that dizzy or odd sensation. These effects are starting to become more noticable inside too! THANKS!!
I am experiencing some very strange sensations in addition to the expected swelling, dryness and eye pain normal for Graves' ophthmalopathy. Note that I was recently seen by an ophthalmologist in September for a follow-up and diagnosed with Graves eye disease last March. I have not mentioned this concern to the doctor becuase I am not sure how to explain it and I haven't found anything on the web that has anything that sounds like what I am experiencing! (I have mentioned blurriness that does not resolve with reading glasses upon waking in the morning for about 30 mins or that occurs late at night when tired- I am 41 years old and he says it is ok for someone of my age to experience these phenomenon.)
I do not have out right double vision. Instead, I often get a dizzy sensation when walking or if I move my head too quickly from one side to another. The sensation is very acute when I am walking outside or in a store like Walmart- it is almost, but not quite, as if the images I see bounce up and down slighlty instead of staying still. It has become so overwhelming when I am at the store that I keep my eyes down on the floor until I get to the section of the aisle which contains the items I will purchase. I love to be outside and it has made it unpleasant to take a walk! The sensation lessens if I can look at the road while walking, but if I try to walk on grass or leaves, surfaces that are not consistent in texture, then I get that dizzy or odd sensation. These effects are starting to become more noticable inside too! THANKS!!
Doctor's Answer
by Forum-OD-MP, Dec 13, 2006 12:00AM
there is no real name for that complaint that i know of. but it kind of makes sense...graves disease causes swelling of your extraocular musculature, which not only protrudes your eyes making them look "bigger" but also could very easily impede eye movements like "moving your head too quickly". you may have sluggish eye tracking b/c of swollen extraocular musculature. that wouldnt be easy to fix (orbital decompression surgery_ but at least your symptoms make sense with your diagnosis...
I am waiting for my insurance company to pre-certify orbital decompression surgery with the hope that many of the symptoms will be alleviated without leaving any unpleasant side effects behind.