Unexplained blindness in one eye

[cgrmorris]

My husband has developed a large blind spot in the side of one eye.  The ophthalmologist couldn't see anything wrong and the GP did a MRI of his brain and found nothing wrong as well. They were expecting to see an inflamed optic nerve because he had all the symptoms of something called Optic Neuritis but they saw a perfectly normal optic nerve.
My husband wanted answers and treatment so we went to our relative who is an optometrist and she looked and didn't see anything but she suggested she do a visual computer test (not sure what the correct term is).  It was revealed that the affected eye cannot see things as bright as the other eye and part of the vision is missing.  She told us to go to our optometrist with the report.  My husband doesn't want to because he thinks they will take away his driver's license. We forgot to ask her if they take away driver's licenses for blind people in one eye. Anyone know? Also,  anyone know why blind spots aren't detected through MRI's  and through ophthalmologist instruments?

[lilly608]

I developed a blind spot in the center vision of my left eye 17 years ago!!  I had a very bad virus of some sort (on xmas day) back in 1993 with a very high fever. That night as we were driving home, all of a sudden, flashes of light all over the place that kept flashing for several minutes.  I didn't think much of it at the time.  However, when I awoke the next day, I was left with this blind spot. As you all indicate, back then the doctors saw nothing, but did not do an MRI either.  The only thing that proved to them that it was lost was the field vision test.  This was at the University of Illinois Eye Clinic, which is supposed to be the best in its field!!  I was referred to many doctors from there - all to no avail!!  The eye just remained like that for a very long time with no further eye complications, but many DDD and ear complications.  Fast forward about 15.5 years later.  About a year and a half ago, I began having pain in that eye, and having to wear contacts, my optometrist looked at it and said the eye was wandering so I  had to get prism lenses for my glasses.  Also at that time, I complained to him of pain in the eye to the touch; he still did not see anything "bad" with the eye.  As the over a year has progressed, I have developed bad temple headaches, a very tender pain to the touch of the eye, such as when I put on eye makeup, as well as pain around the entire eye socket and back into my mastoid and neck.  So, I make an appointment with a neuro opthamologist and saw him last week.  Lo and behold - there is no pupil response to light and the optic nerve is pale, as well as the wandering eye he also noticed.  The eye is basically useless at this point.  He gave me a field vision test as well, and with this eye, the dot in the middle looked like three dots all clumped together!!  He said that was from the optic neuritis - the deadening, if you will, of the eye!  An MRI was done and I got the results on Friday:  no tumor, but some white spots which may - may - indicate MS, although he said at my age (46) we are allowed some white spots due to age.  I am like:  huh?  what?  wait!!  I have been waiting for a dx on this eye forever!!  Not that I want MS, mind you, but seriously - and this is my fault because I never told the doctor last week that he is the FIRST one to ever see anything wrong with the nerve, pupil or anything!  So I definitely have to talk with him on Monday because this may change his opinion on things, knowing that it has changed so much over the past two years.  So I am actually researching the retrobulbar neuritis that the doc above mentions, and see if this is what is going on.  I will then wrap all of  this up with a book for it has been a very strange journey and it is also not the end!  

So, any advice out there?  Thanks so much!!  To think - after 17 years!!

[soup9942]

You may still drive with one eye in most states...check your local DMV.  

[cgrmorris]

Hi Barb, check your inbox for an update.

[Barb0106]

Would you please update when you get any info? I will do the same. It is so irritating not having an idea what this is.

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

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[cgrmorris]

Thanks doctor, I appreciate the response.
Thanks Barb I hope you too get answers soon and regain vision.

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

You need to see a neuroophthalmologist as soon as possible. If you live in the USA find one at www.aao.org

There is a form of optic neuritis called retrobulbar neuritis in which the optic nerve looks totally normal and may have a normal MRI.

In my opinion you are wasting time and money going to an optometrist with such a serious problem.

JCH MD

[Barb0106]

Hi,First I just wanted to say sorry to hear your husband is going through this.I dont have any answers for you but I wanted to comment on your post because, I am having the same eye issue as your husband. Mine is my the left side of my left eye. I have been to the an opthamalogist and a retinal specialist, no answers from anyone,they said my eye looks healthy, I just recently began noticing that the effected eye doesnt see things as brightly as the other eye as well. i have an appt, with a neuro opthamologist on the 25th of this month. I have had this blind spot since January 13 of this year. Is he having any other issues in this eye along with the blind spot?