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.
Neurology (Expert Forum)
Possible Optic neuritis?
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
Possible Optic neuritis?
by Carolyn_H, Aug 23, 2004 12:00AM
I recently had bronchitis, laryngitis and a mild ear infection, and at around the same time I noticed my vision didn't look quite right in one eye but I couldn't really tell how. I was referred to an ophthalmologist who checked my IOP and did a fundoscopy/retinal examination. He said the inside of my eye was normal, some conjunctival injection, marked blepharitis/chemosis and impaired tear film affecting my vision (thick oil over my cornea). I used artificial tears for symptomatic relief but my vision began to get more different (though I only noticed it if I closed my good eye) and I developed pain on movement of my eye, photophobia and lightning flashes in the dark. I went back to the op a week later, same exam, still blepharitis and impaired tear film, maybe a little corneal swelling, take some corticosteroid drops. I had slight colour desaturating and a mild pupillary defect by then. He said neuritis unlikely because the inside of my eye was still normal. Ten days later and I have had a marked decrease in visual clarity, like everything is bright and faded. I particularly have blurriness in the lower left quadrant with a bit of central scotoma. Mostly it is like the brightness is up but the contrast is way down. The pain on eye movement persisted for about a week but is pretty much gone now. My pupils are fairly normal (slight anisocoria which I think I have always had). I am fairly sure I have optic neuritis, but how long will these vision defects persist? They worsened for about 10 days before plateauing but reading/using a pc worsens it, esp. when I am tired.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS, Aug 24, 2004 12:00AM
The symptoms you describe could be consistent with optic neuritis. I would recommend having a consultation with a neurologist who can evaluate this condition. Also, a neuro-ophthalmologist would be reasonable. A MRI of the brain may be of some use, especially with special attention on the eye/optic nerve. This should typically be done with contrast. Regarding the recovery if this is optic neuritis, it is not predictable. If this is optic neuritis, a course of IV steroids will help to decrease the recovery time and relapse risk. Good luck.
Just to add, reflection of light in the cornea of the affected eye (when looking in a mirror) is different, diffuse image (like ghosting) on the surface of the eye. The affected eye often feels dry and burning with a foreign body sensation in it. I don't think the topical corticosteroids are helping much.
Is this an optic neuropathy or some strange conglomeration of other eye problems?
I did have one other question related to my symptoms (if it's not too much trouble) - when I try to look just through my bad eye, it takes a few seconds for everything to click into focus, for the haze to dissipate a bit when I'm trying to read something. Would this be part of the (suspected) neuritis or should I see an optometrist about that when I can see better?