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Severe Eye Issues -- Help & Opinion Required
Hey everyone,
Although this may seem like a long shot, I'm coming here for both an opinion and some help. Although it's a long story, I'll make it brief. After my father's death, I began experiencing eye issues since the tender age of thirteen, which consisted of the appearance of floaters and flashers. Subsequent to that, I started seeing a black flasher that wouldn't disappear (which I've since come to live with and accept). That was all by the age of fifteen. Around this time, I started experiencing double vision (diplopia, as they say) and I was even able to handle that, though it was difficult and heavily disrupted my ability to read. Thankfully, I was once again able to suppress it (somewhat) and continue on, though it still continued to bother.
Recently, I experienced another change, and this time it's even more difficult. Due to large computer use, my diplopia seemed to worsen, making everything double that I'm not focused on (like everything around this text box). I've seen an optometrist, an ophthalmologist, an endocrinologist, and a neurologist. The real question is: what's my next step? I've been through so much with my eyes that it's honestly wares down on me completely, and I seem out of options and answers. I was simply told that it's natural for my eyes to change, though that it's somewhat rapidly different with me.
Additionally, I should mention that I am now nineteen and that my eyes did stabilize for about two years (from sixteen to eighteen). However, this recent change has really frightened me. What should I do next? There doesn't seem to be a single answer that's helpful and I'm truly at a loss. Should I be checked for an autoimmune disorder? Any help would be deeply appreciated.
Although this may seem like a long shot, I'm coming here for both an opinion and some help. Although it's a long story, I'll make it brief. After my father's death, I began experiencing eye issues since the tender age of thirteen, which consisted of the appearance of floaters and flashers. Subsequent to that, I started seeing a black flasher that wouldn't disappear (which I've since come to live with and accept). That was all by the age of fifteen. Around this time, I started experiencing double vision (diplopia, as they say) and I was even able to handle that, though it was difficult and heavily disrupted my ability to read. Thankfully, I was once again able to suppress it (somewhat) and continue on, though it still continued to bother.
Recently, I experienced another change, and this time it's even more difficult. Due to large computer use, my diplopia seemed to worsen, making everything double that I'm not focused on (like everything around this text box). I've seen an optometrist, an ophthalmologist, an endocrinologist, and a neurologist. The real question is: what's my next step? I've been through so much with my eyes that it's honestly wares down on me completely, and I seem out of options and answers. I was simply told that it's natural for my eyes to change, though that it's somewhat rapidly different with me.
Additionally, I should mention that I am now nineteen and that my eyes did stabilize for about two years (from sixteen to eighteen). However, this recent change has really frightened me. What should I do next? There doesn't seem to be a single answer that's helpful and I'm truly at a loss. Should I be checked for an autoimmune disorder? Any help would be deeply appreciated.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It sounds as if you have been thoroughly evaluated, but I would recommend two subspecialists: a pediatric ophthalmologist (specialist in eye muscle disorders, eye mis-alignment, and double vision) and a neuro-ophthalmologist. You should consider being evaluated at a teaching hospital, since the doctors there are referred the rarer and more complicated cases, and thus are more likely to have experience with the problem.
Hey Jason, I'm 18 and I kind of have some understanding about the eyes as I experience floaters myself. What did the ophthalmologist tell you?
Does anyone have thoughts?
By the way, I should mention that I've had a CT and everything came back clear. However, the problems have persisted.
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