SWOLLEN OPTIC NERVES

I RECENTLY WENT TO THE EYE DOCTORS FOR NEW GLASSES, BUT AS SHE CHECKED THE BACK OF MY EYES, SHE NOTICED MY OPTIC NERVES WERE SWOLLEN AND MY VEINS WERE INFLAMED. I HAVE HAD HORRIBLE HEADACHES AT MY TEMPLES AND SINUS'S AND AM FORCED TO SOMETIMES WEAR MY SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT. MY VISION HAS GOTTEN BLURRY AND "FLICKERS" LIKE AN OLD MOVIE. I TEND TO FEEL LIGHT HEADED. MY EYE DOCTOR SENT ME TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE THEY PREFORMED AN MRI, BUT SAW NOTHING. THEY NOTED TOO THAT MY OPTIC NERVES WERE VERY SWOLLEN. BUT HAD TO DISCHARGE ME WITH PAPERWORK SAYING IT WAS JUST A HEADACHE. MY EYE DOCTOR BELIEVED I HAD PAPILLEDEMA BUT THE DOCTORS AT THE HOSPITAL SAID THAT IT WAS A RARE DISEASE AND IS VERY UNLIKELY THAT I HAVE IT. WHAT COULD IT BE? MY HEADACHES ARE GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. AND I FIND MYSELF STRUGGLING TO FOCUS ON THINGS THAT HAVE NEVER GIVEN ME PROBLEMS BEFORE... PLEASE HELP

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

Swollen optic nerves are a very serious problem. Not all things that might cause swollen nerves will show up on a MRI.

You should see a neuro-ophthalmologist as soon as possible. You can go to www.aao.org and use the Find A Eye MD Feature to locate a neuro-ophthalmologist in your geographic area.

JCH III MD

[Jen2228]

Hi I was just wondering if you have found anything out about your optic nerve swelling because my mom is going through the same thing right now and we are trying to figure out what is wrong with her too and her MRI came back fine also so we are still trying to figure things out.     Jen

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

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[laughingman]

Had any luck because I think I have what you are describing.

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

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[Willie100]

Doctor I had a very bad fall in the shower taking a bad hit to the back of the head, three weeks later I found out I had a swollen Optic nerve in the left eye only, I can't read with that eye. I just stated getting bad headaches, at night, it seems when I lay down. I was ordered a MRI but it seems their slow about having it done. Can the fall have caused it, and can it heal itself, and can it be fixed. I'm 66 years old. Please answer, thank you.