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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Severe vision problems
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Severe vision problems
by ds2002, Sep 12, 2002 12:00AM
I was put on Effexor, an anti-depressant. When I got up to taking 4 a day, my vision went haywire, like an LSD-trip - I began seeing trails, colors were rapidly changing colors, the stars on my computer screensaver were flying out of the monitor, people looked wierd, etc. I went to the hospital for this, and it got so bad that my vision was basically a wierd blur, but awoke the next day with everything back to normal.
Now, as time moves on, my vision is slowly turning to junk. The
symptoms are as follows:
When I look directly upon a person as they walk from left to right or right to left, the background seemingly "moves" along with them. The quicker that the person moves, the more that this tends to occur.
Over a period of time, the TV and computer monitor have slowly become extremely bright, and produce immediate and strong after-images.
Also: A single trail is present on moving things in my peripheral vision. Small lights now look like balls of fire from a distance; lit rooms look different, perhaps a bit darker, than before; the outside looks more 'luminous'; When looking at something that emits light, I see a streak of light "jump" to the source of that light for a fraction of a second; floaters are in my eyes constantly.
I know this is alot, and I've been to the regular eye doc and Ophtamologist, who both say my actual eyes are fine. I now have an appt. with a Neurologist, and hopefully soon a Neuro-Opthamologist.
Searching the Internet, I couldn't really find out who it is that may deal with all of these problems, am I doing correct?
Now, as time moves on, my vision is slowly turning to junk. The
symptoms are as follows:
When I look directly upon a person as they walk from left to right or right to left, the background seemingly "moves" along with them. The quicker that the person moves, the more that this tends to occur.
Over a period of time, the TV and computer monitor have slowly become extremely bright, and produce immediate and strong after-images.
Also: A single trail is present on moving things in my peripheral vision. Small lights now look like balls of fire from a distance; lit rooms look different, perhaps a bit darker, than before; the outside looks more 'luminous'; When looking at something that emits light, I see a streak of light "jump" to the source of that light for a fraction of a second; floaters are in my eyes constantly.
I know this is alot, and I've been to the regular eye doc and Ophtamologist, who both say my actual eyes are fine. I now have an appt. with a Neurologist, and hopefully soon a Neuro-Opthamologist.
Searching the Internet, I couldn't really find out who it is that may deal with all of these problems, am I doing correct?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT, Sep 19, 2002 12:00AM
Effexor is well known to cause vision changes, but I'm not quite sure why you are continuing to have progressive visual changes after you intially got better off the meds. Theoretically, you should be getting better. It's possible there's something else going on. Glad the ophtho said everything is ok. It seems as if you are going through the appropriate channels for evaluation. Neurologist isn't a bad idea just to make sure everything is ok from a brain standpoint. Depending on what they think from your exam, imaging studies such as an MRI of the brain and possibly a neuro-ophtho consult may also be helpful. Good luck.
i completely symphathize with your problems.
i am currently going through the same problems which have been ongoing for the past year and a half and getting worse.
ive been to ophthalmologist,optometrist,neurologist,neuro-ophtha,and to date no progress.
my problem is like similar to what 2kidsmom describes where i see white twinkles when i look at the sky or when i look at some thing bright like a whit t-shirt .
ive had just about every eye exam you can name conducted and everything has returned that its not my eyes causing the problem.
ive also had an mri ct scans,bloodwork.ect done and its all normal.
according to my dr.our next step is a spinal tap .
these dr's will push med's on you even though they will later contradice as to why you are taking them so the best advice i can give is question everything.