3rd eye palsy in right eye followed by 4th eye palsy in left eye

[ghufar]

Hi. In February I suffered from 3rd eye palsy in my right eye along with excrutiating pain for several weeks which required strong pain killers. The doctors told me I probably had a mini stroke (anuerism?). After 3 months (during which I wore a patch) I was almost back to normal and in August was given the all clear back to normal status.

In September I started getting excrutiating pain in my left eye similar to that of February. The pain worsened and seeing my doctor he said "It was unlikely (and almost impossible) for it to reoccur in the opposite eye. Take some pain killers and its probably migraines causing it". A week later the pain became unbearable again and I went to A&E who decided to keep me in for observation and pain relief. I woke up the next morning with 4th eye palsy of the left eye.

My pain levels still come on like some form of attack and are on the side of the nose, above and below the eye but not on the side. They're like burning swelling sensations which are different to the touch. There is sometimes pain which can be straight in behind the eye and shooting at times into my head. I'm now on oral morphene.

To be honest the doctors are now stumped as to how, why and what is occurring. They have done a CT Scan, blood tests and a lumbar puncture and everything has come back clear. They are only waiting for one more result which they says its inlikely to be positive and thats the meningitis test (12 weeks).

I do suffer from blood pressure and take medicine for this. I have had an infarct in my brain and been diagnosed with slight onset of heart disease so am on blood thinners and cholestoral control.

Anyone with ideas ?

[ghufar]

Hi Sandy

Any pointers as what could be the cause so I can throw something at my MD since they appear to be stumped even having sent details to several specialists ?

After all they have done the CT scan, lumbar puncture and blood tests and can't find anything. Could it be something viral ?

I had toxoplasmosis in 2000 and also suffer from sinussitis on my right side from time to time.

Best Regards and Thanks

Ghufar

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear ghufar,

I would recommend that you seek the care of a neuro-ophthalmologist to determine the cause of these palsies.  You might require additional testing to determine the etiology.

Dr. Feldman

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California