Convergence insufficiency and blurred vision from magnesium sulfate

[hooloovoo]

I discovered Epsom Salt baths as a treatment for psoriasis in December 2010 and started taking baths a couple times a week. (They were working well for the psoriasis). I started taking them daily and one night I noticed blurry vision at night. During the day I had eyestrain, headaches, and blurry vision, especially with near vision. I stopped the baths and my eye symptoms improved. I started the baths again a week later and an hour after my second day of taking the baths, I was in the emergency room with eye problems, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Since then my vision has not recovered. I am still suffering from eyestrain, headaches, and blurry vision. I have seen an optometrist and ophthalmologist and both say my eyes are fine. Could I have damaged my eyes during these baths? If so, how can I try to repair the damage? Please post a response if you can. I need all the help I can get! Thank you for your time. I found this journal article on the neuroophthalmologic effects of magnesium sulfate:

Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1990 Dec;163(6 Pt 1):1848-52.

Neuroophthalmologic effects of intravenous magnesium sulfate.

Digre KB, Varner MW, Schiffman JS.

Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City 84132.


Abstract

To test the hypothesis that visual disturbances are more common during intravenous magnesium sulfate administration than at 1 to 4 days after discontinuation of the drug, 13 women underwent bedside neuroophthalmologic examinations during intravenous magnesium sulfate tocolysis at 2.0 to 3.0 gm hr and again at 1 to 4 days after cessation of therapy. Visual symptoms were common during intravenous magnesium sulfate administration. Blurred vision was present in 12 of 13 patients and diplopia was present in 10 of 13 patients. Abnormal findings during neuroophthalmologic examination occurred in all patients during intravenous magnesium sulfate administration. Findings included ptosis, accommodative and convergence insufficiency, and abnormal pupillary responsiveness to light and near. All patients were symptom-free and had normal examinations after magnesium sulfate was discontinued. These findings suggest that visual disturbances with therapeutic magnesium sulfate are common.

PMID: 2256494 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

No way you could have gotten enough Mg into your system to cause that kind of problems. That abstracted article has intravenous Mg.

Recently in Missouri some "bath salts" sold across the state at "head shops" and some low class service stations were found to be laced with illegal drugs. Perhaps yours might have been contaminated.

If the problem persists see a neuroophthalmologist. Find one near you at www.aao.org

JCH MD

[hooloovoo]

Thank you for your response. They were CVS brand Epsom Salts from CVS, so those shouldn't have been contaminated. I did have pressure in my eyes of 20 and 20, 22 and 23, and 22 and 26. I have no peripheral vision loss. Could ocular hypertension cause the symptoms I am experiencing?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Those pressures are generally not high enough to cause problems like yours.
JCH MD

[feliborr]

i had the same visual disturbances with oral magnesium, the addition of selenium and zinc helped me restore sharp sight

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[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Selenium and Zinc are components of the original AREDS formula for slowing dry age related macular degeneration. Too much zinc can lead to anemia.

JCH MD