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Scleral thinning WITH PICTURE
The sclera in both my eyes has been thinning out for some unknown reason. I have had CT scan of my head and the results showed no masses or inflammation. But that was the only test they really gave me besides a regular eye examine. After the doctor, a highly recommended orbit specialist from the Marshfield Clinic, saw my scan results he dismissed me. Never even considering looking for an underlying reason for the scleral thinning. Even though I have a long family history of auto immune diseases such as Lupus and Scleroderma. He told me that "some peoples eyes are just different". But I know something is wrong. I have constant everyday headaches and eye pain. Not to mention a long list of weird symptoms: constant lower rib pain, large joint pain, difficulty swallowing, and muscle spasms. How can it be possible that my eyes would just start thinning for no apparent reason? So I'm begging if anyone knows anything that I should have my general doctor look for, please, please comment. Also, I have added a picture of my eye. It's hard to see the thinning, since it's difficult to get a close up of an eyeball, not to mention that the thinning is better seen at a different angle. But the thinning is the same on all sides of my eyes. Like a blue band in an almost perfect circle.
I am 27 years old was addicted to tv and video games since childhood long long hours even though my eyes couldnt take it..now i have come to a stage my schlera thinning there is always pain extreme light sensitivity but doctors say theres nothing now i am helpless can someone please help
3 Comments
It isn't possible to help you on this internet forum for obviously we cannot see your eye and examine you. Your best solution is to continue to see the ophthalmologist Eye MD you feel most comfortable with. Ideally you would also see a retina Eye MD ophthalmologist once/year also.
Dr now i am getting a sympton of something weird in terms of eye senses pain in back of my eye and difficult to respond not everytime but sometimes..is it because optic nerve has been damaged i am worried i had never had all this before
As I have told you spending a lot of time watching TV or doing video games will not damage the eye but may lead to myopia or dry eyes. You cannot damage your optic nerve with those activities. You might want to see your ophthalmologist to discuss your new symptoms.
Please do you and your a favor. My 10 yr old and I have blue sclera. I'm now 42. We have both had it 9 years. I have migraines and a whole lot of other issues and yet only A FEW THINGS CAUSE BS. Please look at Ehlers- danlos. There are SO many and just having a couple of one type is enough to tie it together. Don't wait several years for an answer do your homework take it to a doctor and ask ask ask away. It's the only way you can truly find answers. Good luck to all!
1 Comments
Dr.Hagan, I hope I got that right! I have a similar problem. My eyes hurt really bad though and I already went to the doctor. Problem is, my doc is military. From past experiences and wrong diagnosis saying my son was fine twice, and needing to hospitalized that same day, then again needing surgery same day. We can't always trust their judgment. Im 32, 130 female.I have thinning in both eyes and eye cupping of 8.5, my eyes hurt so bad and I noticed the blue sclera. I also noticed I'm seeing spots. I honestly thought my children were turning blue. Thought they had an oxygen problem. Realized everywhere I look I'm seeing shadows. I'm having pinches of pain in my head right side above my eyebrow. I went to the doctor and she said my optic nerve is fine, but I have severe dry eye producing no tears. For complete medical. I have an enlarged neck that I'm trying to see doctor for. Takes a month to get in. Feels stiff and feels like something is stuck in my throat. Sharp random body pains, my left ribs are extremely tender. My skin is hypersensitive to touch like i feel like Im bruising lightly bump against me and the pain doesnt go away. Im not like that all the time though, buy often.I have painful muscle spasms, feel like its hard to breath but no wheezing,My mom has had countless doctors try to figure out her syptoms. For a while they thought she had M.S. Then vitamin deficiency, I can't even remember what they are saying it is now. So I can't tell you if auto immune disease runs in the family or not. Please help. I'm embarrassed to even go to the doctor and tell him all this.
1 Comments
Okay so don't knock military docs because I was one during Viet Nam. You need to see an ophthalmologist, ideally to start one that specializes in cornea and external diseases. You also need to see an internal medicine specialist for all your systemic complaints. The neck problem could be thyroid. If you are active military you might see if you can get into one of their referral centers. If you are retired military you may be able to get authorization to seek civilian care. If you live near a world class tertiary medical center like Mayo Clinic or Cleveland Clinic you might go there as this is a complex problem and one I cannot diagnose over the internet.
Dry eyes is the most common reason that people have to stop wearing contacts. The contacts don't cause it. Does not cause scleral thinning. Contacts can use bumps on eye near the cornea called pinguecula JCH MD
Can wearing contact lenses cause thinning sclera, cornea and dry eyes? How to avoid them if I want to wear them daily?
Thank you for your most welcomed explanation of the eye and in
particular, answering that individual who was concerned about her Scleral Thinning. I have some thinning myself in two areas of my left eye. My Eye Specialist has not explained anything, so your narrative is most welcomed. God bless you for the light in this regard.
JTM.
particular, answering that individual who was concerned about her Scleral Thinning. I have some thinning myself in two areas of my left eye. My Eye Specialist has not explained anything, so your narrative is most welcomed. God bless you for the light in this regard.
JTM.
Blue sclera is a sign of anemia which has hypothyroidism as a root cause. See the work of Dr. David Brownstein. Hope this helps! Isabelle
You need to be tested for all autoimmune disorders--rheumatoid arthritis, multiple scherosis, lupus. My initial panel came back negative--chest xray, ppd(tuberculosis), ankylosing spondylitis, uric acid, myeloperoxidase antibody, and hla-b25, and ANA screen for RA.
With your various symptoms though, muscle spasms, difficulty swallowing , etc., autoimmune seems certain. Autoimmune is where the body attacks itself, not recognizing the foreign bacteria, but healthy tissue, organs are attacked.
An eye doctor was certain that I had a full blown autoimmune-after seeing the extreme damage in my right eye-thinning sclera, corneal damage, and
and synechiea. However, none discovered yet. Hard to diagnose due to similarities in symptoms. A rhematologist may be needed. Next target for me is to get my thyroid checked and full metabolic panel. Good luck!
With your various symptoms though, muscle spasms, difficulty swallowing , etc., autoimmune seems certain. Autoimmune is where the body attacks itself, not recognizing the foreign bacteria, but healthy tissue, organs are attacked.
An eye doctor was certain that I had a full blown autoimmune-after seeing the extreme damage in my right eye-thinning sclera, corneal damage, and
and synechiea. However, none discovered yet. Hard to diagnose due to similarities in symptoms. A rhematologist may be needed. Next target for me is to get my thyroid checked and full metabolic panel. Good luck!
You DEFINITELY need to research Ehlers-Danlos. It causes all of the symptoms you mentioned. I would see a geneticist if I were you. My daughter has vascular EDS. Its rare so make sure you ask for one who knows what EDS is...ednf.org is a good place to start.
My 2 monthes old daughter has blue-grey sclera i just noticed 2 days ago i have never noticed before..is that normal due to thin sclera or i have to consult a doctor to check if is it normal or sign of inheried bone disorder?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It is almost always normal and due to the thin baby sclera (white part) over the blue choroid under it. As the sclera thickens it goes away. It is a frequently asked question and you can use the search feature and archives and read other posts.
JCH MD
JCH MD
I have a 3 months baby ,he has gray part in his sclera.in both eyes.i just wonder is that normal or not
This was 3 years ago but I hope you still check this. I have the same problem, noticed 3 days ago. Seen 2 different doctors and all they tell me is they are baffled and dont know what it is. There is nothing wrong with my eyes, yet no one seems to know what is causing this. Please, please let me know if you ever found out what caused this. my email is ***@****
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Any age if you use the search feature you'll see than many of the questions like this are about newborns and babies.
JCH MD
JCH MD
When you say it's normal from aging, do you mean that at any age it can happen? Because I'm only 25 years old.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You can certainly get a second opinion. My recommendation would be an Eye MD that specializes in corneal/external disease. Find one near you at www.aao.org
Know that far, far and away the most common cause is just a relatively thin sclera (which gets thinner as we get older) showing the blue choroid layer under it.
Think of it like a thin person that has very visible veins under their skin. Its normal for a thin person.
JCH MD
Know that far, far and away the most common cause is just a relatively thin sclera (which gets thinner as we get older) showing the blue choroid layer under it.
Think of it like a thin person that has very visible veins under their skin. Its normal for a thin person.
JCH MD
But shouldn't there be some sort of testing done to ensure that it's not thinning do to an underlying disease? All the doctors did was test for scleritis. Should I be more vocal about getting some more tests done? Is it common for that much scleral thinning to just appear one day for no reason?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This is from a past post:
The white part of the eye-the sclera- is normally white and is the outer of the three main layers of the eye "wall". Normally it is whitish in color, under the sclera is the "choroid" the layer that carries the arteries, veins and other blood vessels of the eye. The choroid has pigment cells in it and is dark blue in color, under the choroid and nearest the center of the eye is the "retina". The retina is the sight forming tissue of the eye. The retina is colorless and transparent in health.
When you look at someone's eye you see blood vessels that appear to be on the surface of the sclera. These are in the "conjunctiva" another transparent, elastic tissue that covers the sclera on the surface that we see when we look at someone's eyes. If the conjunctiva is irritated due to allergy, infection, or trauma the blood vessels dilate and the eye looks "blood-shot" or "pink".
The most common color change of the visible sclera is a yellowing that comes with age. This is really a result of the elastic fibers in the conjunctiva yellowing with time and exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun. A yellow thickening often develops at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions called a pingueculum. (a good reason to protect your eyes from extended bright sunlight with a hat and ultra-violet blocking sunglasses).
Now to your specific question. A blue appearance of the sclera is really due to thinning of the sclera allowing the bluish color of the choroid to show through. In older adults there often develops a localized blue spot on the visible conjunctiva called a "scleral plaque". It is not a serious problem and does not require any treatment. When Ophthalmologists (EyeMDs or MD physicians that do medical and surgical eye care) operate on the back of the eye (especially retinal detachment surgery) there are often areas of blue sclera, sometimes rather large, that represent splits or almost absent areas of sclera. These are called "staphylomas".
Diffuse blue sclera results from thinning of the sclera. This might be present at birth or develop in childhood. Blue sclerae are most importantly associated with types I and II osteogenesis imperfecta. Blue sclera may also be associated with:
Ehler's danlos syndrome
pseudoxanthoma elasticum
Marfan's syndrome
Blue sclera may also be acquired through long-term use of corticosteroids.
There is no specific treatment usually done for blue sclera. Diagnosis and treatment of any underlying disease is very important. If a localized area of thinning is about to rupture sometimes a "scleral patch graft" can be used to strengthen the area.
With your daughter's complex history and the excellent job her physicians have done making these unusual and often difficult diagnoses, I'm sure she's seen a pediatric ophthalmologist and an endocrinologist. They would be in the best position to answer your question more specific to her case. I suggest you discuss your concern with them.
JCH MD
The white part of the eye-the sclera- is normally white and is the outer of the three main layers of the eye "wall". Normally it is whitish in color, under the sclera is the "choroid" the layer that carries the arteries, veins and other blood vessels of the eye. The choroid has pigment cells in it and is dark blue in color, under the choroid and nearest the center of the eye is the "retina". The retina is the sight forming tissue of the eye. The retina is colorless and transparent in health.
When you look at someone's eye you see blood vessels that appear to be on the surface of the sclera. These are in the "conjunctiva" another transparent, elastic tissue that covers the sclera on the surface that we see when we look at someone's eyes. If the conjunctiva is irritated due to allergy, infection, or trauma the blood vessels dilate and the eye looks "blood-shot" or "pink".
The most common color change of the visible sclera is a yellowing that comes with age. This is really a result of the elastic fibers in the conjunctiva yellowing with time and exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun. A yellow thickening often develops at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions called a pingueculum. (a good reason to protect your eyes from extended bright sunlight with a hat and ultra-violet blocking sunglasses).
Now to your specific question. A blue appearance of the sclera is really due to thinning of the sclera allowing the bluish color of the choroid to show through. In older adults there often develops a localized blue spot on the visible conjunctiva called a "scleral plaque". It is not a serious problem and does not require any treatment. When Ophthalmologists (EyeMDs or MD physicians that do medical and surgical eye care) operate on the back of the eye (especially retinal detachment surgery) there are often areas of blue sclera, sometimes rather large, that represent splits or almost absent areas of sclera. These are called "staphylomas".
Diffuse blue sclera results from thinning of the sclera. This might be present at birth or develop in childhood. Blue sclerae are most importantly associated with types I and II osteogenesis imperfecta. Blue sclera may also be associated with:
Ehler's danlos syndrome
pseudoxanthoma elasticum
Marfan's syndrome
Blue sclera may also be acquired through long-term use of corticosteroids.
There is no specific treatment usually done for blue sclera. Diagnosis and treatment of any underlying disease is very important. If a localized area of thinning is about to rupture sometimes a "scleral patch graft" can be used to strengthen the area.
With your daughter's complex history and the excellent job her physicians have done making these unusual and often difficult diagnoses, I'm sure she's seen a pediatric ophthalmologist and an endocrinologist. They would be in the best position to answer your question more specific to her case. I suggest you discuss your concern with them.
JCH MD
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